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THE 


CHRISTIAN  MECHANIC 


SKETCH  OF  CHARLES  MORSE, 


OP   NEWBURYPORT,   MASS. 


WETTTEN     FOR    THE    MASSACHUSETTS    SABBATH     SCHOOL    SOCIETY,     AND 
APPROVED     BY    THE    COMMITTEE    OP     PUBLICATION. 


BOSTON: 

MASSACHUSETTS    SABBATH  SCHOOL  SOCIETY, 
Depository,  No.  13  Cornhii.l. 

S\< 


I^ntered,    according   to    Act   bf    Congress,   in    the   yfeat   1859) 

BY  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  SABBATH  SCHOOL  SOCIETY, 

In   the  Clerk's  Office  of   the   District   Court  of  Massachusetts. 
WeU'^pring:  Press,  N<?.  4  Spr-nff  L>an9j 


IT 


CONTENT  S  . 


CHAPTEE.  PAGE. 

I.      EARLY  LIFE 5 

n.      HIS   MOTHER 14 

m.      THE  DARK  CLOUD 33 

IV.      DOMESTIC  RELATIONS 42 

V.      UNION  WITH  THE  CHURCH 93 

VI.      A  SABBATH  SCHOOL  TEACHER 108 

Vn.  ONE   OF  HIS   SABBATH   SCHOOL   SCHOL- 
ARS HIS  PASTOR 121 

Vlli.      MR.  MORSE  AS  A   PARISHIONER 150 

IX.      INTELLECT  CULTIVATED  FOR  GOD 162 

X.      FAITHFUL  IN  FRIENDSHIP 171 

XI.      INTEREST  IN  PUBLIC  MORALITY 184 

XII.      RELIGION  IN  DAILY  LIFE 189 

XTTT.      MISSIONARY    SPIRIT 204 

XW.      LIFE    OF   PRAYER 214 

XV.      LAST   DAYS 225 


T  HE 


CHRISTIAN    MECHAxNlC. 


CHAPTER    I. 


EARLY      LIFE. 


*  In  presenting  to  the  public  eye  tlie  life 
of  this  humble  and  devoted  Christian, 
the  writer  is  not  influenced  by  any 
variety  of  incidents,  or  any  peculiarity 
of  circumstances,  which  might  invite 
description.  It  is  the  record  of  a  very 
simple,  retired  life,  apparently  like  thou- 
sands   of    others,    except    as    its    interior 

^  purpose   shaped   and   colored   it. 


6  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

His  pastor,  in  a  sermon  preached  to 
his  people,  on  the  Sabbath  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Morse,  remarked :  "  Human 
character  is  so  subtle  in  its  nature,  so 
difficult  to  be  understood,  and  if  under- 
stood, often  inexpedient  to  describe,  that 
I  seldom  speak  to  you  publicly  of  indi- 
viduals, even  when  I  know  that  a  light 
has  gone  out,  leaving  many  sorrowful 
hearts  darkened  by  the  stroke.  But,  in 
thisi'  instance,  %as  a  life  departed,  so 
transparent  and  so  consistent,  so  full 
of  the  purposes  of  duty,  so  ripe  in 
those  Christian  fruits  whereby  we  are 
told  we  '  can  know  of  the  doctrine ' 
professed,  that  I  can  but  follow  it  from 
its  source  to  its  final  entrance  into  the 
vast  sea  of  immortal  life.  The  stream 
was  clear,  reflecting  the  image  of  heaven 
above,  and  enriching  and  blessing  the 
earth   through  which   it   flowed." 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  7 

Charles  Morse  was  born  in  Newbury- 
port,  Mass.,  August  8th,  1803.  His 
parents  were  Mr.  William  and  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Morse ;  and  he  was  the  fourth 
child  in  a  family  of  eleven  children, 
ten  of  whom  lived  to  mature  age.  It 
is  rather  a  remarkable  circumstance, 
that  the  commencement  of  his  mother's 
married  life,  was  also  the  commence- 
ment of  her  religious  life,  her  attention 
having  been  arrested  by  the  prayer  offered 
at  the  marriage  ceremony.  That  occa- 
sion, which  is  suggestive  often  of  merri- 
ment to  the  thoughtless,  or  of  conven- 
tional parade,  was  that  on  which  hinged 
the  momentous  decision  of  her  destiny. 
God,  who  had  especial  designs  in  her 
onward  path,  led  her  thus  to  that  self- 
consecration  which  is  the  first  step  towards 
the  guidance  of  others.  Her  husband 
made    a  profession    of    religion   later    in 


b  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

life ;  and  both  were  respected  members 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Dimmick's  church,  at  the 
time   of  their   decease. 

From  early  childhood,  Charles  mani- 
fested a  docile,  affectionate  disposition. 
The  wish  of  his  parents  seemed  to  be 
his  law.  In  his  sports  and  in  his  work, 
he  showed  much  natural  energy,  and  a 
strong  will,  but  it  was  not  suffered  to 
interfere  with  wholesome  subjection.  He 
has  been  heard  to  express  gratitude  for 
the  obedience  inculcated  in  his  child- 
hood. When  he  could  not  always  see 
the  reason  for  a  command,  he  was 
taught  to  obey  it;  and  this  habit  both 
exercises  and  strengthens  the  whole  char- 
acter. The  obedience  of  the  child,  is  a 
preparation  for  tlie  faith  of  the  Christ- 
ian. It  is  "  the  first  commandment  with 
promise ; "  and  the  blessing  of  Cod  fol- 
lows   its    observance.     "  I    thought,"    he 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  9 

said,   "  that    my   parents    could    not    bid 
ine   do   a  wrong   action." 

A  large  family  circle  develops  the 
character  of  each  of  its  members,  for 
the  tastes  and  interest  of  others  must 
be  consulted,  and  this  brings  into  play 
the  peculiar  traits  of  each.  Selfishness 
cannot  easily  remain  latent,  where  there 
are  constant  occasions  to  call  it  out. 
The  family  is  the  world  in  miniature, 
with  its  hopes  and  fears,  its  successes  and 
disappointments,  its  rights  and  wrongs. 
As  a  boy,  Charles  Morse  was  the  kind 
and  affectionate  brother,  as  well  as  the 
dutiful  son.  He  entered  into  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  others,  with  great  forget- 
fulness  of  self,  and  was  anxious  to  do 
more,  and  not  less,  than  his  share  of 
any  required  duties  in  the  family.  If 
any  pleasure  reached  one  of  his  broth- 
ers   or    sisters,    it  was    reflected    in    his 


10  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

ready  smile  of  sympathy,  and  he  was 
constantly  thinking  of  something  for  the 
comfort  of  his  home.  While  he  enjoyed 
the  society  of  other  lads  of  his  age, 
he  returned  to  his  seat  at  home  with 
evident  satisfaction. 

As  a  pupil  at  the  public  school,  those 
who  knew  him  there,  speak  of  him  as 
"  a  good  boy,"  "  never  getting  into  quar- 
rels, and  very  attentive  to  the  rules  of 
the  school-room."  He  was  diligent  in 
study  going  to  it  with  relish,  and  not  as 
to  a  task.  He  would  have  been  delighted 
to  pursue  his  studies  farther,  but  he 
knew  that  the  circumstances  of  his  family 
would  not  permit  it,  and  he  would  not 
suffer  himself  to  repine,  when  compelled 
to   relinquish   school    for   active  labor. 

He   was    rather  quiet  in   his    manners  - 
as  a  school-boy,  and  avoided  that  rough 
class   of  boys   who   delight  in  rude    and 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  11 

cruel  sports,  or  indulge  in  vulgar  and  pro- 
fane language.  His  sensitive  spirit  could 
find  no  fellowship  with  such,  although 
he  formed  a  very  strong  attachment  to 
a  few  chosen  companions.  These  earlj 
associates   were   always   dear   to  him. 

When  he  was  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  he  was  apj^renticed  to  his  father, 
to  learn  the  trade  of  a  ship-carpenter, 
and  remained  with  him  for  four  years. 
During  tliis  time,  he  labored  hard  and 
faithfully,  ever  ready  to  regard  the  wishes 
of  his  father,  and,  as  far  as  he  was 
able,  relieve  him  amid  the  exposure 
and   toil   attending   that   kind  of  work. 

Thus  nearly  twenty-one  years  of  his 
life  passed.  He  was  looking  forward, 
as  it  is  natural  for  the  young,  te  many 
years  of  unclouded  pleasure.  Although 
he  was  amiable  in  disposition,  and  had 
no   inclination   for    the   low    amusements 


12  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

which  consume  the  time  and  means  of 
many  of  his  age,  still,  he  had  not  yet 
given  himself  to  Christ.  As  he  after- 
wards expressed  it,  he  "  was  making 
preparations   only   for   this   world. '^ 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  that  during 
this  period  he  was  without  any  reflec- 
tion in  his  immortal  destiny.  This  wa& 
hardly  possible,  living  as  he  did  under 
the  influence  of  a  prayerful  mother,  and 
listening  to  the  Word  of  Life,  dispensed 
by  the  now  venerable  Dr.  Dana.  He 
was  exemplary  as  a  moral  young  man, 
punctual  in  his  attendance  on  the  Sab- 
bath school,  and  in  the  choir,  of  which 
he  was  a  member;  but  the  Holy  Spirit 
had  not  yet  been  the  guest  of  his  soul. 
And  without  the  Divine  influence  to 
seal  instruction,  how  many  hear  it  to 
wonder,  and  perhaps  admire,  and  yet 
remain   aliens   from   God,   and   His   love. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  13 

But  a  cloud  was  rising  in  the  hori- 
zon of  that  youth,  although  as  yet, 
unseen  by  him,  and  behind  that  cloud, 
dark  and  gloomy  as  it  appeared,  there 
was  light,  mercy,  salvation.  The  Lord 
had  need  of  him,  but  he  was  to  be 
disciplined   and   prepared   for   service. 


14  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC 


CHAPTER    II. 


HIS     MOTHER, 


"  For  this  child  I  prayed;  and  the  Lord  hath  given  me  my  peti- 
tion, which  I  asked  of  him ;  Therefore,  also,  I  have  lent  him  to  the 
Lord ;  as  long  as  he  liveth  he  shall  be  lent  to  the  Lord.", 

1  Samuel,  1 :  27,  28. 


It  would  be  very  pleasant  to  trace  the 
influence  of  a  Christian  mother  on  the 
character  and  life  of  her  child.  But  its 
extent,  its  result,  can  never  be  fully 
comprehended  here,  since  they  are  as 
endless  as  that  life  itself.  The  religious 
experience  of  Charles  Morse  was  too 
intimately  connected  with  his  mother's 
prayers  and  untiring  efforts,  for  us  to 
separate    them.     It   is   evident    that    she 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  15 

was  the  "  Household  Angel,"  living  in 
constant  intercourse  with  Heaven,  and 
through  her  fervent  pleadings,  bringing 
down  blessings  from  above.  Hers  was 
that  frame  of  mind  which  the  apostle 
enjoins  when  he  bids  us  to  "  pray 
without  ceasing;"  hers  the  prayer  which 
Montgomery   describes   as 

"  The    soul's   sincere   desire, 

Uttered   or   unexpressed ; 
The   motion   of  a   hidden   fire 

That   trembles   in   the   breast. 
Prayer   is   the   burden   of  a   sigh, 

The   falling   of  a   tear, 
The   upward  glancing   of  an   eye, 

When   none   but    God   is   near." 

A  peculiar  affection  and  sympathy 
united  this  mother  and  son.  They  had 
many  traits  in  common  ;  and  the  im- 
plicit trust  of  the  child  strengthened 
into    the    confidence    of    maturer  years, 


16  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

when    her    character    was     fully    under- 
stood. 

That  which  the  devout  soul  craves 
first,  and  most  of  all  for  a  loved  friend, 
is  God's  choicest  gift — eternal  life.  He 
has  higher  aspirations  for  him  than  are 
known  to  eager  ambition.  Mrs.  Morse 
labored  unweariedly  for  the  salvation  of 
her  son.  It  was  her  custom  to  set 
apart  days  of  fasting  and  prayer  in  his 
behalf  ;  and  on  such  occasions  she 
poured  forth  her  supplications  with  an 
importunity  that  could  not  be  denied. 
She  not  only  prayed  for  him,  but  it 
might  be  truly  said  that  she  "  watched 
unto  prayer,"  noticing  every  providence 
which  might  seem  to  have  any  bearing 
on  his  spiritual  welfare ;  and  wlien  the 
days  of  his  trial  came,  she  had  a 
strong  feeling  that  the  deep  affliction 
was     designed     by    a     merciful    God    to 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  17 

lead   him   heavenward,   and   she   was   not 
disappointed. 

She  was  unwearied  in  her  care  for 
her  household,  but  in  rendering  to  her 
son  every  earthly  aid,  slie  did  not  for- 
get his  higher  nature,  or  the  fact  that 
his  undying  soul  needed  that  light,  with- 
out which  no  one  can  "  see  God."  Most 
tenderly  did  she  soothe  his  sorrows, 
and  strive  to  bring  to  him  help  higher 
than  hers.  It  was  at  this  time  a  cir- 
cumstance occurred,  which  was  after- 
wards related  by  Mr.  Morse  to  a  friend. 
"  I  used,"  said  he,  "  to  notice,  while  I 
was  confined  to  my  room,  that  my 
mother  was  in  the  habit  of  frequently 
stealing  over  the  stairs,  which  led  to  a 
little  attic  chamber,  and  tarrying  there 
for  a  long  time.  These  visits  would 
also  be  made  after  all  the  household 
were    in    bed ;     and    often,    if    I    awoke 

2* 


18  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

early,  could  I  hear  her  stepping  very 
softly  over  those  stairs  ;  then  there 
would  be  a  low  murmur,  as  if  some 
one  was  speaking  in  a  hushed  but 
earnest  manner  ;  once  or  twice  I  heard 
a  sob,  as  if  there  was  weeping.  I  knew 
not  what  to  make  of  it.  Does  she  go 
there,  thought  I,  to  weep  over  my 
misfortunes  ?  Or  does  she  (I  hardly 
dared  think  of  this,)  go  away  into  that 
chamber  to  pray  for  my  soul  ?  J  was 
soon  convinced  that  the  latter  was  the 
case,  and  that  I  was  the  object  of  her 
agonizing  supplications.  But  oh  I  how  the 
thought  distressed  me !  I  felt  that  a 
praying  mother  like  mine  was  bringing 
down  on  me  a  weight  of  responsibility 
which  I  could  not  bear.  I  shrank  from 
the  thought,  Init  it  haunted  me  contin- 
ually. Go  where  I  would,  that  little 
attic  chamber,  and  that  mother's  pleading 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  19 

■voice  was  ever  before  me."  "  How  did 
you  rid  yourself  of  this  trouble  ?"  asked 
his  friend.  "  By  going  there  to  pray 
for  myself,"   was   the   reply. 

At  another  time  he  said,  ''  My  mother 
did  not  make  a  practice  of  preaching 
long  sermons  to  us,  on  the  importance 
of  coming  to  Christ.  If  she  had  done 
so,  I  think  it  would  have  had  a  tendency 
to  harden  my  heart ;  but  she  set  before 
us  the  beauties  of  religion  by  a  holy, 
consistent.  Christian  deportment.  We 
could  not  help  knowing  that  she  lived 
near  to  Jesus,  and  that  her  whole  heart 
and  soul  were  devoted  to  His  service. 
She  was  always  saying  some  little  words 
for  Him.  And,  oh !  those  precious  little 
ivords,  how  they  told  upon  my  mind, 
and  how  deeply  are  they  still  fixed  in 
my    memory." 

Speaking   one    day   of    the    importance 


20  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

of  cultivating  perfect  truthfulness,  he 
said  :  "  This  was  one  of  the  beauties  of 
my  mother's  character,  and  I  think  her 
example  in  this  respect  has  ever  had  a 
great  influence   over   me." 

To  another  friend  he  said,  "  That 
dear,  praying  mother,  how  often  have  I 
seen  her  coming  out  of  her  room,  with 
a  countenance  which  almost  seemed  to 
shine,  looking  as  I  could  imagine  Moses 
looked  when  he  came  down  from  the 
Mount  of  Communion.  While  I  have 
sometimes  gazed  on  that  peaceful  face,  I 
have  inwardly  blessed  God  for  such  a 
treasure." 

Those  who  were  intimately  acquainted 
with  Mrs.  Morse  knew  how  solicitous 
she  was  for  the  conversion  of  her  son. 
She  hardly  ever  received  a  call  from 
any  Christian  friend,  to  whom  she  could 
speak    freely,  without   disclosing,    in    the 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  21 

course  of  the  conversation,  her  ruling 
desire.  "  I  want  my  Charles  to  be  a 
Christian ;  will  you  remember  him  in 
your  prayers  ?"  On  being  told  at  one 
time  that  a  certain  individual,  who  was 
not  then  particularly  acquainted  with 
him,  had  been  led  to  make  him  a  spe- 
cial subject  of  prayer,  she  appeared 
almost  overwhelmed,  and  exclaimed  — 
"  Oh,  I  will  be  faithless  no  longer ; — 
united   prayer   tvill  be   answered." 

When  he  began  to  express  a  trem- 
bling hope  that  he  had  found  the  Saviour, 
then  her  desires  expanded  still  farther. 
"  I  want  him,"  she  said,  "  to  be  a  con- 
sistent Christian,  to  walk  very  near  to 
God,  to  honor  his  Master  in  all  he  does." 
In  this  connection,  she  observed  to  a 
friend,  "  I  am  almost  afraid  to  move, 
lest  I  should  do  something  to  cause  in 
my     son    a     low    estimate    of    Christian 


22  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

duty.  I  want  him  to  set  his  standard 
high,  and  to  be  a  ivhole  Christian." 
Those  who  knew  Mr.  Morse  most  inti- 
mately, can  best  testify  how  remarkably 
these   desires   were  answered. 

When  we  speak  of  her  feelings  in 
respect  to  this  son,  we  would  not  imply 
any  indifference  to  the  immortal  interests 
of  other  members  of  her  family ;  for 
never  was  a  mother  more  scrupulously 
attentive  to  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
welfare  of  all  those  who  were  committed 
to   her   care. 

A  friend  called  on  her  one  day,  and 
found  her  with  a  countenance  exceed- 
ingly distressed  and  anxious.  On  inquir- 
ing into  the  cause  of  her  sorrow,  Mrs. 
Morse  replied,  "  How  can  I  feel  that  I 
have  done  my  whole  duty  as  a  Christian, 
while  I  see  one  of  my  children  remaining 
out  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ?     I  think 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  28 

there  must  be  something  very  defective 
in  my  prayers,  or  unholy  in  my  daily 
walk,  which  prevents  their  salvation. 
How  terrible  is  tlie  thought,  that  I  — 
their  mother — should,  in  any  way,  be  a 
stumbling  block,  over  which  they  may 
fall    and   perish  1  " 

An  intimate  neighbor,  on  entering  her 
house  one  day,  found  her  standing  amidst 
her  work,  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  her 
eyes  closed,  and  her  hands  clasped  tightly, 
as  if  in  very  agony  of  spirit.  On  being 
spoken  to  she  very  modestly  said,  ''  Al- 
though my  hands  are  full  of  labor,  yet  a 
prayer-hearing  God  is  ever  nigh,  and  we 
can  at  any  time  cry  out,  as  Abraham 
did,  '  Oh,  that  Ishmael  may  live  before 
thee.' " 

This  fervent  petition  was,  doubtless,  in 
behalf  of  a  daughter,  in  whose  heart  the 
Holy   Spirit   had   been    striving,   and    for 


24  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

whom  this   faithful  mother   had  felt   the 
most  intense   anxiety. 

Said  one  who  was  in  the  habit  of 
seeing  her  frequently,  indeed,  almost 
daily,  "  I  cannot  now  remember  that  I 
ever  passed  half  an  hour  with  her  with- 
out hearing  her  say  something  which 
related  to  Christ,  or  the  interests  of  his 
kingdom.  Once,  when  about  leaving  the 
house  after  a  pleasant  interview,  she  laid 
her  hand  affectionately  on  my  shoulder, 
and  with  her  peculiar,  gentle  smile,  said, 
"  Well,  we  have  spoken  freely  of  earthly 
things,  shall  we  not  also,  as  Christian 
disciples,  have  a  word  to  say  of  Him 
who   suffered   for  our   redemption  ? 

'  We,   alas,   forget   too   often, 
What   a   Friend  we  have   above.'" 

Mrs.    Morse    possessed    a   mind  of   un- 
common  refinement,  and   it  seemed  ever 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  25 

to  be  in  harmony  with  all  the  works 
of  the  Creator.  Notwithstanding  her 
many  in-door  duties,  she  snatched  time 
to  cultivate  flowers,  and  her  little  gar- 
den afforded  her  great  pleasure.  "  These 
flowers,"  she  would  say,  "  are  truly 
living  preachers  ;  they  have  to  me  a 
sweet  voice,  continually  speaking  of 
God's  goodness  and  love,  in  thus  adorn- 
ing a  world  which  would  seem  to  be 
dark  without  them."  The  writer  well 
recollects  a  morning  offering  she  made 
her,  froni  a  favorite  rose-bush.  "  I  give 
them  to  you,"  she  said,  "  because  they 
are  so  beautiful,  but  we  must  not 
worship  the  rose,  but  the  God  who  has 
power  to  create  such  beautiful  things." 
Would  that  all  to  whose  taste  flowers 
minister,  might  also  read  their  message, 
and  feel  with   Horace    Smith  : 


26  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

"  Youi'    voiceless    lips,    oh,    flowers !     are    living 
preachers ; — 
Each   cup   a   pulpit,   and  each   leaf  a  book, 
Supplying   to   my   fancy   numerous   teachers 
From   loneliest  nook." 

"  I  do  love  flowers,"  said  Mrs.  Morse, 
one  morning,  to  a  friend,  who  found 
her  bending  over  a  little  plant  she  had 
been  watering,  "  and  when  I  think  of 
the  great  variety  there  is  among  them, 
of  the  many  different  forms  and  colors, 
and  remember  that  they,  too,  like  us, 
must  fade  and  die,  I  cannot  help  feeling 
a  kind  of  joy  in  knowing  that  there 
will  be  never-fading  flowers  in  heaven." 
It  was  thus  with  all  the  objects  in 
nature  which  she  saw ;  her  mind  im- 
mediately turned  to  their  beauty  and 
liarmony  of  design,  and  glanced  "  from 
nature    up   to  nature's  God." 

Mrs.     Morse    enjoyed     the   social    privi- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  27 

leges  of  a  Christian,  and  it  was  her 
delight  to  open  her  doors  to  those 
who  met  to  pray.  There  are  those  who 
can  look  back  with  the  most  cherished 
recollections  to  those  precious  seasons  in. 
that  neat  and  quiet  parlor,  which  had 
been  so  sacredlv  dedicated  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God.  "  It  always  seems  easy  to 
pray  in  Mrs.  Morse's  parlor,"  said  one, 
**  for  the  very  atmosphere  of  the  room 
seems   holy." 

It  was  certainly  a  consecrated  spot, 
and  to  this  day  it  is  felt  that  the  ben- 
efits which  many  are  now  enjoying  in 
spiritual  things,  are  in  answer  to  the 
earnest  supplications  which  rose  like  in- 
cense  from   that   room. 

Many  of  that  precious  praying  band 
have  now  gone  home,  and  she  who  so 
cheerfully  welcomed  them  to  her  earthly 
dwelling,    is    among   the    number.     Their 


28  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

prayers  are  turned  to  everlasting  praises. 
On   whom  shall  their   mantle    fall  ? 

It  would  be  natural  for  us  to  con- 
clude that  the  closing  scenes  of  such  a 
life  would  be  full  of  triumph,  that  such 
a  sun  would  set  without  a  cloud.  But 
it  was  not  so.  Mrs.  Morse,  for  the  last 
few  years  of  her  life,  became,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  severe  illness,  subject  to 
an  almost  entire  loss  of  memory  ;  during 
the  last  year  she  did  not  know  even 
lier   own    children. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband,  in 
1847,  she  removed  to  Topsfield,  where 
she  made  her  home  with  a  married 
daughter.  About  a  year  before  she 
died,  she  made  her  last  visit  to  New- 
buryport.  Although  she  was  apparently 
in  usual  health,  (except  perhaps  that  her 
face  was  more  pale  than  formerly,)  and 
mild  and  lady-like  in  all  her  movements. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  29 

yet  it  could  be  clearly  perceived  that 
her  power  of  memory  was  wholly  gone. 
She  was  taken  by  a  friend  to  the  house 
where  she  had  spent  so  many  years  — 
where  she  had  seen  some  of  her  chil- 
dren come  into  the  kingdom  of  Christ 
— from  which  she  had  seen  the  husband 
of  her  youth  carried  to  his  long  home 
—  and  around  which  so  many  sacred 
associations  clustered ;  but  it  was  all 
strange  to  her.  She  was  then  led  into 
that  parlor  —  that  precious,  holy  spot. 
"  Do  you  remember  this  place  ? "  her 
friend  inquired.  "  1  think  not,"  she 
replied,  "  I  believe  that  I  was  never 
here  before."  "  Did  you  ever  know 
of  a  Mrs.  Morse  who  used  to  come 
here  to  pray  for  her  children  ? "  "I 
do  not  remember  any  such  person," 
was  her  reply.  "  Well,"  continued  her 
friend,    "  did   you    ever    hear    of   Jesus 


30  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

Christ,  our  Saviour  ?  "  "  Jesus  Christ," 
she  repeated,  with  a  sweet  smile ;  "  oh, 
yes,  I  think  I  remember  Him — He  died 
for  sinners,  did  He  not  ? " 

This  precious  name,  ^'  swedt  to  the 
believer's  ear,"  and  dearer  to  her  than 
any  earthly  tie,  this  liame  could  not  be 
forgotten.  Soon  after  this  last  visit,  a 
heavier  stroke  still  fell  upon  her,  and 
her  reason  was  entirely  dethroned.  She 
soon,  however,  passed  away,  and  was  at 
rest. 

The  following  obituary  notice,  written, 
it  is  supposed,  by  some  member  of  a 
praying  circle  in  Topsfield,  appeared  in 
the   paper  soon   after   her  decease : 

"In  Topsfield,  Aug.  28tli,  Mrs.  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  Mr.  William  Morse^  of  Newburyporty 
aged    77. 

"We  retain  a  most  delightful  recdiection  of 
our  departed  sister.  Her  sweetness  of  character, 
iver   highly   cultivated  mind,  her  gentle  and  grace- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  31 

fill  deportment,  rendered  her  a  model  well 
worthy  of  imitation  ;  and  I  am  sure  that  not  one 
of  our  circle  would  be  longer  lamented  than  she 
will  be.  Her  truthfiil  and  conscientious  spirit 
gained  her  the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  her, 
and  her  lovely  and  noble  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  won  their  affection.  In  the  arduous  duties 
that  devolved  upon  her,  she  was  habitually  cheer" 
ful,  while  upon  all  around  she  exerted  an 
influence,  gentle,  yet  beneficent  as  the  distilling 
dew. 

"  As  a  wife  and  mother,  her  tender  affection 
and  fidelity  were  never  surpassed.  It  was  in  her 
family  that  her  retiring  and  attracting  virtues 
shone  with  their  own  peculiar  lustre.  Her  views 
of  religious  truth  were  clear,  distinctive,  and 
scriptural  ;  and  superadded  to  a  natural  consci- 
entiousness, was  her  high  sense  of  personal  respon- 
sibility. This  was  the  controlling  motive-power 
of  her  life — a  power  maintained  and  strengthened 
by  her  daily  habit  of  studpng  the  oracles  of 
Di\4ne  Truth,  and  of  communion  with  God  in 
prayer. 

"  However  manifold  and  arduous  might  be  her 
duties,  or  distracting  her  cares,  she  did  not  for- 
get where  to  look  for  guidance  and  support ; 
and  long  in  the  memory  of  her  children  will 
linger  her  image,  as  she  sat  by  the  window, 
perusing  together  the  book  of  Nature  and  the 
book   of    God.      Priceless  is   the   value   of  such   a 


32  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

habit,  clearing  away  the  clouds  which  earthliness 
gathers  around  the  spirit,  and  through  the  puri- 
fied atmosphere,  giving  the  soul  sweet  visions  of 
the  heavenly  land.  It  was  this  perpetual  inter- 
course with  the  invisible  world  which  brought  to 
our  friend  strength  from  above,  and  gave  consis- 
tency and  spirituality  to  her  character,  and 
invested  her  with   a   peculiar   charm." 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 


CHAPTER     III. 

THE      DARK      CLOUD. 

"  Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 
But  trust  Him  for  His  grace : 
Behind  a  frowning  providence 
He  hides  a  smiling  face." — Cowper. 

When  Mr.  Morse  was  within  three  weeks 
of  being  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  at  work  one  day  at  his  usual  occu- 
pation, when,  on  attempting  to  drive  a 
nail,  it  broke,  and  a  piece  of  it  struck 
his  eye,  effectually  destroying  the  sight, 
and  prostrating  him  on  a  bed  of  great 
suffering  and  agony.  He  was  confined  to 
the  house  for  many  weary  months,  and 
most  of  the  time  to  a  darkened  room ;   and 


34  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

his  constitution,  never  very  strong,  became 
at  that  time  so  injured  that  it  never 
fully  recovered.  His  nervous  system 
received  a  severe  shock,  and  in  conse- 
quence, he  ever  after  was  a  sufferer 
from  dyspepsia,  and  its  attendant  evils. 
When  sufficiently  recovered  to  go 
abroad  once  more,  he  was  changed  from 
the  ruddy,  vigorous  youth,  to  the  pale, 
attenuated,  feeble  man.  This  event  made 
him  always  look  prematurely  old.  Pos- 
sessing naturally  great  sensibility,  with 
unusual  refinement  and  delicacy,  he  felt 
very  keenly  the  change  in  his  appear- 
ance, and  it  is  not  strange  that  when 
he  looked  forward  to  his  future  life,  his 
heart  should  sink  within  him.  He  had 
arrived  at  that  period  of  life  when  the 
imagination  of  the  young  man  paints 
the  future  in  glowing  hues,  and  fills  it 
with   busy    plans,    when    the    present    is 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  35 

but  the  bridge  over  which  he  longs  to 
pass  to  reach  the  independence  to  come. 
He,  too,  had  formed  his  plans,  marked 
out  his  onward  path,  and  supposed  that 
his  "  mountain  stood  strong."  But  God, 
by  His  providence,  spoke  to  this  young 
man,  "  crossed  all  his  fair  designs,  blasted 
his  pleasant  grounds,  and  laid  him  low." 
None  but  those  who  have  been  placed 
in  a  similar  situation,  can  conceive  of 
the  emotions  which  agitated  him.  Nor 
were  they  those  of  mere  personal  suffer- 
ing, or  selfish  disappointment.  His  father 
was  advanced  in  life,  with  a  large 
family  around  him  needing  his  aid,  and 
no  doubt  expecting  that  a  son,  so  active 
and  affectionate,  would  be  to  him  a 
strong  support  on  which  he  could  lean 
— the  staff  of  his  old  age.  But  there 
he  was  in  that  darkened  room,  liis 
physical   frame  racked   by  intense  agony, 


36  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  his  mind  suffering  still  more  acutely. 
This  afflicted  young  man  could  not  see 
through  the  dark  mystery  which  over- 
whelmed him,  and  he  began  to  have 
gloomy  views  respecting  the  justice  of 
God.  How  many  are  there  who  have 
been  through  the  same  temptation.  We 
receive  constant  and  continued  mercies, 
but  we  heed  them  not,  yet  when  trials 
come,  the  natural  heart  rises  in  rebellion. 
To  a  person  of  his  peculiar  sensibility, 
the  disappointment  was  most  keen  ;  and 
he  shrank  from  the  thought  of  min- 
gling again  with  his  former  associates  in 
his  altered  state.  His  was  not  yet  the 
peace  of  reconciliation,  he  could  not  yet 
feel  that  in   God's  purposes 

"  The   bud  may  have   a  bitter  taste, 
But  sweet  will  be  the  flower." 

Had  not  his  lieavenly  Father  revealed  to 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  37 

him  his  love,  planting  new  hope  in  the 
soul,  he  would  in  all  probability  have 
become  a  prey  to  morbid  sensibility, 
and  shunned  all  society.  But  God  had 
other  designs,  and  by  this  discipline  of 
suffering,  was  fitting  him  to  become, 
what  he  so  eminently  was  in  subse- 
quent life,  the  friend  of  the  suffering, 
and  a  son  of  consolation  to  all  in  trial. 
In  the  darkened  chamber  of  this  suf- 
fering youth,  was  one  faithful  attendant, 
ever  near,  ever  ready  to  minister  to  his 
wants,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  to  alle- 
viate his  distress.  Similar  as  they  were 
in  natural  character,  the  mother  well 
read  the  anguish  of  her  son,  even  in 
his  silence,  and  met  it  with  the  deep- 
est sympathy.  At  the  time  of  the  acci- 
dent, which  had  caused  him  the  loss  of 
his  eye,  she  cried :  "Oh,  if  I  could 
purchase  back  that   eye,    by  parting  witli 


38  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

one  of  mine,  how  gladly  would  I  do 
it."  But  her  sorrow  was  not  without 
hope.  This  praying  mother  believed  that 
God  designed  by  this  affliction  to  save 
the  soul  of  her  child,  and  most  eagerly 
did  she  watch  every  opportunity  to  say 
some  of  those  "  precious  little  words  " 
which  were  so  fondly  remembered  in  after 
years.  But  her  duty  did  not  end  here. 
In  the  deep  stillness  of  the  slumbering 
household,  there,  in  that  little  chamber 
up  yonder,  that  same  mother  is  prostrate 
before  the  mercy-seat.  She  is  in  ^earn- 
est; she  knows  that  a  covenant  God  is 
ever  faithful  to  his  promises.  He  hath 
said,  "  Ask,  and  ye  shall  receive," — 
and  so  she  pleads  :  "  Lord,  send  down 
the  influence  of  thy  Spirit  upon  this 
afflicted  child,  that  he  may  in  this  time 
of  darkness  and  suffering,  turn  to  Thee. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  39 

Bind  him   to  thy    service,  and   seal   him 
as  wholly   thine." 

"  The  effectual,  fervent  prayer  of  the 
righteous  man  availeth  much."  It  was 
during  the  time  of  his  confinement  at 
home,  that  Mr.  Morse  began  to  feel  the 
strivings  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  They  were 
heard  like  "  the  still,  small  voice."  The 
work  of  introspection  and  self-knowledge 
began,  and  he  saw  himself  as  a  lost 
and  ruined  sinner,  condemned  for- 
ever to  sin  and  the  consequences  of 
sin,  unless  rescued  by  the  sovereign 
atonement.  His  convictions  of  sin  were 
very  deep  and  pungent,  and  there  were 
seasons  when  he  was  almost  driven  to 
despair.  So  strong  were  these  feelings 
that  at  one  time,  he  dissolved  his  con- 
nection with  the  choir,  considering  him- 
self  unworthy     even     to    join     in    '•  the 


40  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

service  of  song  in  the  house  of  the 
Lord." 

When  his  health  was  restored,  and  he 
once  more  went  abroad,  and  engaegd  in 
his  former  occupation,  he  continued  to 
feel  the  heavy  load  of  sin  bearing  him 
down.  He  stood  as  a  condemned  crim- 
inal, listening  to  the  thunders  of  Sinai 
without  once  daring  to  lift  his  eye  to 
Calvary. 

This  state  of  mind  continued  for  two 
or  three  years,  and  when  at  last,  hope 
began  to  dawn,  it  was  not  as  the  sud- 
den effulgence  of  the  noonday  sun,  but 
like  the  first  faint  ray  in  the  eastern 
horizon,  slowly  increasing,  until  we  may 
call  it  light.  He  was  accustomed  to  say 
that  he  could  point  to  no  definite  period 
when  the  first  ray  of  light  entered  his 
bosom,  piercing  the  deep  darkness  which 
had   so  long   brooded   there  ;    but  gradu- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  41 

ally  he  became  sensible  of  its  existence, 
and  the  effect  of  light  was  peace,  such 
a  peace  as  he  well  knew  "  the  world 
could  not   give    or   take    away." 

Thus  we  see  that  dark  cloud  lifted, 
and  we  are  permitted  to  behold  its 
''  silver  lining."  We  are  constrained  to 
acknowledge  God  as  infinitely  merciful, 
even  when  he  hedges  up  our  path,  and 
crosses  every  earthly  plan.  Mr.  Morse 
used  to  say  that  "  the  loss  of  his  eye 
was   the  means   of  saving   his    soul." 


42  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 


CHAPTER    IT. 


DOJMESTIC      RELATIONS. 


''  Love  is  the  golden  chain  tha^t  binds 
The  happy  souls  above  ; 
And  he's  an  heir  of  heaveu,  who  finds 
His  bosom  glow  with  love." 


The  dutiful  spirit  which  we  have  seen 
in  the  early  life  of  Mr.  Morse,  was 
ripened  by  grace  into  that  thoughtful 
and  generous  affection  which  made  him 
the  centre  of  his  family,  and  of  all  who 
were  brought  into  any  social  relations 
with  him.  He  never  suffered  one  of  the 
links  of  love  to  break,  or  grow  rusty. 
No    matter    how    scattered    the    different 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC,  43 

members  of  his  family  might  be,  or  how 
many  new  ties  might  spring  up  around 
them,  he  still  kept  them  distinct  in  his 
interest,  and  ministered  constantly  to 
their  happiness.  Had  any  one  of  them 
a  sorrow— he,  too,  felt  with  them,  and 
hastened  to  pour  the  balm  of  Christian 
consolation  on  their  wounds.  Had  any 
one  a  want  —  he  endeavored,  if  possible, 
to  relieve  it.  Although  his  own  pecu- 
niary means  were  always  quite  limited, 
he  was  generously  proznpt  in  sharing 
his  money  with  them.  But  far  more 
valuable  still,  he  gave  them  counsel  and 
sympathy- — and  his  relatives  and  friends 
all  felt  that  he  was  to  be  relied  on 
as  most  disinterested  and  true  at  all 
times.  His  presence  and  his  letters  were 
ever  welcome   to  them  all. 

When  Mr.   Morse   had   a  home   of  his 
own,    at    some    little    distance   from    his 


44  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

mother's  dwelling,  if  bis  form  was  seen 
crossing  her  threshold,  she  would  ex- 
claim with  joy,  ''  Here  comes  my  son 
Charles  !  " 

In  1831,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lucy  D.  Saunders,  a  member 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  New- 
buryport.  He  had  peculiarly  exalted 
ideas  of  the  family  relation,  founded  as 
it  is  by  Him  who  "  taketh  the  solitary, 
and  setteth  him  in  families,"  and  hal- 
lowed by  its  origin,  its  uses,  its  eternal 
influence  on  character  and  destiny.  It 
was  not  his  aim  solely  to  bring  comfort 
and  affection  to  the  hearth-stone,  care- 
ful as  he  was  to  do  that,  but  to  make 
it  the  scene  of  constant  improvement. 
He  was  as  attentive  to  the  nourishment 
of  the  mind  as  to  the  provisions  of  the 
table,  and  always  shared  at  home  his 
reading  and  subjects  of  thought.     It  is  a 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  45 

rare  thing  to  find  a  man,  especially  one 
engaged  constantly  in  manual,  hard  la- 
bor for  his  support,  who  makes  it  his 
daily  habit  to  read  aloud  from  some 
author  of  excellence,  comparing  and 
studying  the  truths  conveyed,  thus  turn- 
ing his  hours  at  home  into  fruitful  op- 
portunities of  mental  and  moral  progress. 
This  was  a  constant  practice  with  Mr. 
Morse,  even  when  it  was  difficult  to 
tell  how  his  necessary  labor  at  his  trade, 
and  his  unvaried  charities  could  have 
left   him   the    time   for   it. 

That  he  did  every  thing  to  make  his 
home  happy,  no  one  ever  doubted ;  and 
his  wife  once  remarked  in  conversation, 
^' I  never  imagined  that  'any  person 
could  be  so  utterly  unselfish  as  Mr. 
Morse ;  the  longer  I  knew  him,  the 
more  I  felt  how  ditFerent  he  was  from 
most   people   in  this   respect." 


46  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

For  a  few  years,  a  little  daughteF 
blessed  this  home,  but  she  was  early 
transplanted  to  the  home  above.  Her 
sweetness  of  disposition  and  winning- 
ways,  entwined  her  yery  closely  aronnd 
her  father's  heart,  and,  as  is  so  natural 
to  a  parent,  his  hopes  reached  forward 
into  the  future,  promising  himself  increas- 
ing comfort  from  her  love  and  com- 
panionship. He  was  accustomed,  even 
before  she  could  speak,  to  take  her 
with  him  as  he  went  to  his  noontime 
season  of  devotion,  and  she  enjoyed  it 
highly.  Her  mother  once  asked  him  if 
she  did  not  disturb  him,  and  he  replied : 
"  Never,  she  remains  perfectly  still,  with 
her  little  liands  in  mine,  and  never 
manifests  any  appearance  of  weariness.'^ 
So  fond  was  she  of  sharing  with  her 
father,  this  noontime  hour  of  prayer^ 
that    she   never   needed   any  other   check 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  47 

for  any  little  misdemeanor,  than  to  tell 
her  if  she  was  not  obedient  she  could 
not  go  into  the  room  with  father. 
Young  as  she  was,  she  had  formed  a 
little  ])rayer  for  herself,  and  would  be 
found  kneeling,  and  in  her  childlike 
manner,  asking  for  a  new  heart.  A  day 
came  when  the  tiny  form  could  no 
longer  kneel  by  him,  and  his  heart  bled 
at  the  thought  that  nevermore  on  earth 
could  it  be.  This  bud  was  one  culled 
by  the   reaper,  Death,   who 

••  Gazed  at  the  flowers  with  tearful  eves, 
He   kissed   their    drooping  leaves ; 
It   was   for   the    Lord  of  Paradise 
He  bound   them   in    his   sheaves.'' 

Thus  this  little  one  became  a  pre- 
cious memory  in  that  home, — a  sweet 
hope,  too,  for  she  had  only  "  gone  before." 

The    fondness    which    existed    between 


48  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

Mr.  Morse  and  all  children,  was  quite 
remarkable,  especially  so  when  it  is 
remembered  he  was  not  mirthful  and 
loquacious,  but  rather  grave  and  pensive 
in  his  manners.  He  was  a  special  favo- 
rite among  the  children  of  the  families 
whom  he  was  accustomed  to  visit,  the 
youngest  often  manifesting  the  strongest 
attachment.  Children  are  said  to  be 
great  discerners  of  character ;  and  they 
read  the  tenderness  with  which  he  en- 
tered into  their  wishes,  and  the  pleasure 
it   gave   him   to   serve  them. 

There  was  one  family,  who,  for  some 
years,  resided  under  the  same  roof  with 
himself,  and  in  all  of  whom  he  felt  a 
deep  interest.  To  one  twin  sister  of 
this  band,  a  fair,  blue -eyed,  delicate 
child,  he  was  exceedingly  attached,  even 
in  her  infancy,  from  a  real  or  supposed 
resemblance     to    his    own    lost     darling. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  49 

Their  mutual  delight  in  each  other,  it 
was  very  pleasant  to  witness.  Earlier 
than  one  would  have  supposed  possible, 
she  would  watch  for  his  approaching 
footsteps,  and  catch  the  well  -  known 
tones  of  his  voice.  She  was  never  hap- 
pier than  when  with  him,  ..^nd  she  spent 
much  of  her  time  in  his  dwelling.  She 
would  watch  the  hour  for  his  return, 
and  if  she  could  see  him  coming  home, 
would  run  to  meet  him,  satisfied  if  she 
could  put  her  little  hand  in  his  and 
walk  home  with  him.  He  never  con- 
sidered her  an  interruption,  even  of  his 
busy  and  carefully  husbanded  hours, 
but  he  was  fertile  in  inventing  methods 
to  amuse  and  gratify  her.  During  his 
illness,  little  Flora  was  often  with  him, 
and  manifested  the  deepest  sympathy 
for  him  in  his  affliction.  Many  an  hour 
did  she    spend  by  his   bed-side,   and   by 


50  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

her  childish  prattle  and  affectionate  ex- 
pressions, while  away  his  pain.  On  these 
occasions,  when  about  to  leave  him,  she 
would  give  him  a  parting  kiss,  and  ask 
with  a  beaming  face,  "  Have  n't  I  taken 
good  care  of  you  ? "  It  is  believed  she 
will  never  forget  that  kind  friend,  who 
used  to  take  her  on  his  knee,  and  talk 
so  sweetly  of  heaven,  where  God  and 
the  good  angels  dwell,  and  of  Jesus  and 
his  love  for  the  little  ones,  and  His 
words  of  invitation,  "  Suffer  little  chil- 
dren to   come   unto  me." 

We  give  a  few  letters  which  remain, 
of  the  many  which  Mr.  Morse  wrote  to 
the  scattered  members  of  his  family. 
The  mechanical  exertion  of  writing  was 
very  tedious  and  painful  to  him,  and 
generally  caused  a  severe  nervous  head- 
ache. But  his  affection  for  his  friends 
was    ever  so    thoughtful  of   what  would 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  51 

gratify  them,  that  the  inconvenience  to 
himself  did  not  prevent  hjm  from  ex- 
changing expressions  of  kindness  and 
Christian  counsel  with  them.  For  this 
reason  are  they  added,  not  for  literary 
interest,  but  because  they  show  his  warm 
heart,  and  the  permeating  influence  of 
his   piety: 

"  January   10th,   '46. 
"  My  dear  Mother  : — 

"  I  was  truly  glad  to  hear  from 
you  by  Mr.  D.,  and  though  you  did  not 
say  any  thing  in  regard  to  your  health, 
I  concluded  that  you  were  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  usual  health,  and  contented  and 
happy  ;  that  is,  comparatively  so,  for 
you  and  I  have  long  ago  learned,  that 
positive  and  permanent  happiness  is  not 
to  be  found  on  this  soil,  where  '  thorns 
and   briars    grow,'    and,    as   our    pathway 


52  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

lies  through  a  land  abounding  with 
them,  how  can  we  expect  but  we  shall 
be   often    torn  ? 

"  Dear  mother,  I  often  think  of  you, 
and  long  to  see  you  again,  and  it  is 
very  trying  to  me,  that  you  are  so  far 
from  us  and  your  acquaintances  here, 
and  that  we  can  see  you  so  seldom.  I 
know  too,  that  you  must  feel  the  loss 
of  your  meetings  with  your  Christian 
friends ;  but,  dear  mother,  you  are  still 
as  near  the  Fountain  of  all  happiness, 
all  hope,  all  consolation  as  ever,  and  I 
hope  in  spirit  still  more  so ;  and  all 
the  sorrows  and  changes  you  have  expe- 
rienced, are  working  out  for  you  '  a  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of 
glory.' 

"  There  is  still  much  left  to  you,  my 
mother;  many  mercies  still  remain  to 
you    in    this   world,   and   what    is    above 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  53 

and  beyond  all,  'a  good  hope  through 
grace,'  that  when  '  your  earthly  taber- 
nacle shall  be  dissolved,  you  have  a 
building  of  God,  a  house  not  made 
with    hands,    eternal   in    the   heavens.' 

"  I    send   with    this,    two    numbers    of 
the  '  Missionary  Herald,'  and  one  ^  Home 
Missionary.'     If    you    desire    it,     I    will 
send   them   every   month   by   mail. 
"  Yours, 

"  Charles." 

"  Dear  Mother  : — 

"  I  long  to  see  you,  and  hope  to 
enjoy  a  visit  from  you  soon ;  but  in 
the  mean  time,  I  hope  that  we  shall 
all,  by  the  rich  mercy  of  our  God,  be 
kept  in  peace.  May  you  ever  receive 
constant  supplies  of  grace,  and  faith, 
and  hope,  love  and  patience  to  cheer 
and  comfort  you  in  your  declining  years, 


54  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  fit  you  more  and  more  for  that 
happy  land  where  are  no  sad  changes, 
and  no  sorrow,  because  no  sin.  There, 
my  mother,  all  is  holiness,  and  peace 
and  joy.  I  am  sheathing  a  vessel,  and 
oh,  how  it  reminds  me  of  father ;  but 
I  trust  that  he  is  resting  from  his 
labor. 

"  Miss  E.,  a  member  of  your  church, 
met  with  a  severe  accident  a  fortnight 
since,  on  her  way  to  an  evening  lecture, 
and  she  will  be  obliged  to  lie  still  for 
thirty  days  or  more.  Thus  is  she  laid 
aside.     Surely   we   may   say, 

'Dangers  stand  thick  througli  all  the  ground.' 

"When  C.  writes  again,  please,  dear 
mother,  send  some  word  of  maternal 
love. 

"  Your   affectionate   son, 

"  Charles." 


christian    mechanic.        ob 

"  Dear  Mother  : — 

"  In  dating  this  letter  eighteen 
liundred  and  fifty,  I  am  reminded  of 
the  rapid  flight  of  time,  and  my  thoughts 
revert  to  the  years  and  scenes  of  my 
childhood  and  youth.  Some  of  the  rec- 
ollections of  life's  early  morning  are 
very  vivid  and  pleasant,  while  others  are 
painful.  Some  of  the  first  and  longest 
to  be  remembered,  are  of  my  mother — 
of  her  love,  her  affectionate  care  and 
solicitude,  both  for  my  temporal  and 
spiritual  welfare,  her  patience  with  the 
waywardness  of  her  son  Charles,  and 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  who,  in  the 
folly  and  vanity  of  childhood  and  youth, 
often  gave  her  occasion  for  grief  and 
tears. 

"  Again,    my    thoughts    return    to    the 
present    time,   and    how   changed    is   the 


56  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

scene !  The  family  scattered,  father  re- 
moved to  '  that  bourn  from  whence  no 
traveler  returns,'  (and  I  trust  '  it  is 
well  with  him,')  and  you,  dear  mother, 
separated  from  most  of  your  children, 
and  very  far  from  some  of  them ;  and 
I  sometimes  fear  that  you  may  imagine 
that  amid  the  busy  cares  and  employ- 
ments of  life,  they  may  have  forgotten 
you.  Let  me  assure  you  that  it  is  not 
so.  I  wish  that  I  could  see  you  to 
tell  you  so ;  but  you  well  know  ho^ 
it  affects  me  to  write  at  all,  and  I  am 
now  nerving  myself  up,  in  order  to 
give  you  some  account  of  the  revival 
of  religion  which  we  are  all  now  enjoy- 
ing." 

After  giving  a  minute  account  of  the 
progress  of  the  good  work  around  him, 
Mr.  Morse  continues  to  write :  "  These 
were    indeed    melting    seasons,   and   just 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  57 

such,  dear  mother,  as  you  would  have 
enjoyed.  Oh,  how  often  did  I  wish  that 
J.,  and  S.,  and  W.,  could  have  been 
here ;  it  seems  to  mc  they  would  have 
come  at  once  to  a  decision,  and  have 
given    their   hearts   to    the    Saviour. 

"  My  dear  mother,  I  think  of  you  con- 
tinually, and  anxiously  hope  that  you 
are  comfortable.  It  is  a  source  of  great 
consolation  to  me,  that  your  best  portion 
is  not  in  this  world  of  sin  and  woe, 
but  that  you  can  by  grace  say  to  the 
worlding, 

'  Your  heaps  of  glittering  dust  are  yours, 
But   my    Redeemer's   mine.' 

'^  Your   affectionate    son, 

"  Charles." 
"  P.    S. — I    received    a   letter  fi-om    sis- 
ter H.,  about  four  weeks  since,   by   Rev. 


68  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

Mr.  Stearns,  who  exchanged  with  Dr. 
Cleaveland.  She  is  well  established,  and 
happy  in  her  Christian  hope.  Can  it 
be  that  sister  H.  is  a  Christian  ?  I 
fully  believe  it ;  better  evidence  for  the 
time  being  I  could  not  expect  or  desire. 
Mother,    j^ou    did    not    go    up   into   that 

little   attic   chamber,   in   S street,    to 

pray   for  your   children    in   vain." 

EXTRACT. 

"  Dear  Mother  : — 

"  I  know  that  you  are  longing  to 
hear  from  me,  and  have  often  said  to 
yourself  and  others,  '  Why  don't  Charles 
write,  as  he  said  he  would  ? '  So  I 
did,  mother;  but  it  must  be  in  my  own 
way  and  time,  for  I  need  not  remind 
you  how  much  it  costs  me  to  write, 
and  how  much   it   affects   my  poor   head 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  59 

and  nerves.  A  dread  of  this  has  alone 
prevented.  But  now  mj  affection  for  you 
must  overcome  every  other  consideration, 
and  under  its  influence  I  seize  my  pen 
to  express  that  affection,  and  my  re- 
membrance of  you  continually  while  you 
are   absent  from   us. 

"  Dear  mother,  I  shall  never  forget 
your  pious  and  faithful  instructions,  to 
my  latest  breath  ;  and  since  father  died, 
(do  you  continue  to  feel  his  death  as 
keenly  as  ever  ?)  you  are  scarcely  ever 
absent  from  my  mind.  Oh,  how  happy 
and   relieved   I   felt,    when   I    found,   by 

a    letter   from  C ,  that  you  are   now 

boarding    with     S ,   and    that   C 

was   in   the   same   house  with  you.     Tell 

J and    S that    they   have    my 

warmest  thanks,  and  my  affectionate  re- 
membrance. 

"  Mother,  I  trust  you  are  enjoying  the 


60  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

comfort  which  a  hope,  a  -good  hope,  of 
a  better  world  can  give  you,  for  you  have 
found,   and   we   all   find,   that 

'  This  life's  a  dream,   an  empty  show.' 

Now,  I  suppose  you  will  commence,  and 
repeat  the  whole  psalm  from  which  this 
is  taken. 

"  We  have  now  a  line  of  telegraph, 
extending  to  Boston.  Professor  Morse, 
the  inventor,  is  a  descendant  of  our 
ancient  family,  at  the  head  of  Market 
street.  So  says  the  Newburyport  Herald. 
"  Your  affectionate  son, 

''  Charles." 

The    sister    H mentioned    in  one 

of  these  letters,  was  the  youngest  child 
of  the  family,  who,  after  the  death  of 
her  father,  went  to  Providence,  and  was 
there    awakened    to    new    spiritual    life. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  61 

and  soon  after  united  with  the  church 
there,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Cleaveland.  Three  years  afterwards 
she  went  to  Springfield,  111.,  to  make 
her  home  with  her  brother,  who  was 
an  active  and  engaged  Christian,  and 
very  useful  in  that  part  of  the  coimtry. 
Here  the  hand  of  disease  was  laid  upon 
her,  and  she  died  a  few  months  after 
her  arrival.  The  following  letters  show 
how  deeply  Mr.  Morse  made  the  afflic- 
tions of  his    kindred   his    own : 

"  Deae  Brother  and   Sister  : — 

"We  have  received  your  letter  of 
Sept.  18,  informing  us  of  the  loss  of 
your  dear  little  boy.  Very  truly  did 
you  say  that  *  Charles  and  Lucy  could 
sympathize  with  you,  for  none  can  truly 
understand  the  pangs  and  agonies  of  a 
bereaved  heart,  but  those  who  have  gone 

6 


62  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

through  the  same  trial  themselves.'  We 
understand  your  feelings,  yet  how  little 
can  sympathizing  friends  do  toward  re- 
moving, or  even  alleviating,  each  other's 
woes.  There  is  one  Friend,  and  only 
one,  who  is  able,  and  not  only  so,  but 
ready   and   willing   to   help. 

'  Here  bring  your   wounded  hearts,    here   tell  your 
anguish, 
Earth  has  no  sorrows  which  Heaven  cannot  heal/ 

"  You   feel   that   '  God   has   a  right  to 

reclaim    his    own.'      Dear    C ,    once 

you  could  not  have  said  this,  your 
heart  would  have  violently  rebelled.  And 
why  this  change  of  feeling  ?  Is  it  not 
by  the  grace  of  God  ?  Then,  '  Oh,  to 
grace,  how  much  a  debtor,'  not  only 
that  when  we  pour  out  our  sorrows  and 
tears  into  His  gracious  bosom  He  hears 
us,     and    gives    us   needed    strength    to 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  63 

bear  the  heavy  load,  but  has  He  not 
also  promised  heaven  at  last  to  His 
weary  ones,  if  they  make  a  sanctified 
use  of  the  crosses  and  afflictions  He  lays 
upon  them  ? " 

June  12. 
^  "  I  rejoice  still  to  learn  of  your  trust 
in  God.  To  Him  I  commend  you  con- 
tinually. He  only  can  console  and  com- 
fort you,  and  do  for  you  and  us  '  far  more 
than  we  can  ask  or  think.'  Strive  still  to 
confide  in  Him,  and  in  those  dark  hours 
which  you  experience,  say,  '  Lead  me 
to  the  Rock  which  is  higher  than  I.' 
I  always  remember  you  in  prayer  to 
our  heavenly  Father,  who.  alone  can 
relieve  effectually,  or  give  you  grace, 
and  patience,  and  strength  ••  to  suffer 
all  His  righteous  will,'  and  enable  you 
to   endure   unto   the  end. 


64  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

"  I  bless  God  that  He  does  so  much 
for  you,  by  giving  you  a  good  degree 
of  trust  in  Him,  and  He  has  promised 
more  grace,  even,  for  *  as  thy  day  is, 
so   shall   thy    strength   be.' 

******* 

"  My  dear  C ,  do  strive  to  remem- 
ber that  it  is  your  Father's  hand  which 
inflicts  the  rod,  and  He  does  it,  not 
willingly,  but  for  your  profit;  and  I  do 
tliink  your  profiting  has  appeared  by 
your  patience,  submission,  and  trust, 
and,  I  believe,  by  your  increased  spirit- 
uality. Be  assured  that  your  Saviour 
and  Redeemer  is  constantly  watching 
the  process  of  the  trials  He  is  calling 
you  to  endure ;  watching,  too,  with  deep 
interest,  and  most  tender  sympathy,  for 
*  He  is  touched  with  the  feelings  of  our 
infirmity.'     May  you  feel  Him  ever  near. 

"  Mother    was    here    about     a     month 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  65 

since.  Poor,  dear  mother,  she  has  for- 
gotten   almost   every   thing   but   her    God 

and    Saviour.      And    what,    dear    C , 

are  all  things  else  compared  with  these  ? 
I  trust  that  these  are  the  true  riches 
which  you    can  call   your   own. 

******* 

^'  It  is  seldom  you  are  absent  from 
my  thoughts,  and  never  from  my  peti- 
tions ;  and  I  trust  that  I  am  remem- 
bered in  yours,  for  I  value  greatly  the 
prayers  of  the  children  of  God  ichile 
they  are  under  affliction,  for  I  believe 
that  they  are  precious  in  the  sight  of 
the  Lord.  I  hope  you  have  the  light 
of  His  countenance,  and  experience  some, 
at  least,  of  the  joy  of  His  salvation ; 
but  this,  in  its  perfection,  is  found  alone 
in  heaven.  Let  us,  then,  with  patience 
wait  for  it.  Heaven — shall  /  ever  enter 
there  ? " 

6* 


66  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

m 

"  Neivburyport,   Sept.    12,   1854. 
"  Dear  Brother  and   Sister  : — 

"  You  have  probably  heard  ere 
this  of  the  death  of  our  dear  mother. 
You  were  aware  of  the  feeble  state  of 
her   health,    and   of    the  sad  condition  of 

her   mind,    and    through    brother    L 

you  learned  the  particulars  of  her  last 
sickness,  and  were  not,  I  suppose,  much 
surprised  or  unprepared  when  the  sad 
tidings  reached  you  that  she  was  gone. 
Yet  we  must  ever  deeply  feel  her  loss, 
for  she  was  a  good  mother,  and  loved 
her  children   wisely   and   tenderly. 

"  In  them,  memory  now  wakes  to  the 
many  instances  of  her  Christian  love 
and  fidelity,  to  her  anxious  cares  for 
their  best  good,  her  pious  counsels,  her  N^ 
constant,  earnest  prayers  for  their  salva- 
tion,   her     patience     with    them    in    the 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  67 

obstinacy  of  their  youth,  and,  indeed, 
in  the  whole  of  her  consistent  Christian 
life.  '  Her  memory,  indeed,  is  blessed.' 
*  Her  children  rise  iip  and  call  her  so.' 
How  can  we,  then,  but  mourn  her  loss, 
or  rather,  our  loss  ?  Yet  we  cannot, 
must  not,  mourn  as  those  without  hope, 
for  we  have  as  much  assurance  as  we 
can  have,  that  death  to  her  is  infinite 
gain. 

"  Let  us  bless  God  that  He  continued 
her  to  us  so  long,  and,  that,  though 
in  her  later  days,  her  mind  and  memory 
were  so  weakened  as  to  make  it  painful 
and  distressing  to  us  to  witness,  yet 
spiritual  and  eternal  things  still  remained, 
and  clung  fast  to  memory.  I  will  men- 
tion one  instance  of  this.  When  she 
was  here  last  fall,  though  she  knew  me 
at  times,  she  would  soon  forget  where 
she  was,  or  who  we  were.     1  was  speak- 


68  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

ing  to  her  of  father ;  she  said,  '  Did 
you  know  him  ? '  I  told  her  tliat  I  was 
his  child,  and  hers  also.  '  Oh,'  said 
she,  '  I  have  forgotten  almost  every 
thing,  but  I  do  not  forget  my  Saviour, 
and  I  hope  I  shall  never  forget  to  pray.' 
Nor  did  she  forget,  for  though  God,  in 
His  mysterious  providence,  visited  her 
with  distressing  insanity  in  her'  last  sick- 
ness, yet  near  and  at  its  close.  He  gave 
intervals  of  reason,  when  the  soul  would 
rise  to  God  in  prayer — the  God  she 
loved  and  served  so  faithfully  —  the 
Saviour  on  whose  atoning  blood  she 
relied  alone  for  pardon,  acceptance,  and 
eternal   salvation. 

"  And  now,  she  is  gone  !  Our  dear 
mother  is  at  rest  I  Her  spirit  is  released 
from  infirmity,  suffering,  and  sin  ;  and 
with  all  its  powers  invigorated,  drinking 
in  joys,   of   which  we  can   form  no  con- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  69 

ception.  How  comfortiug  and  consoling 
is  this  assurance  to  us !  Does  it  not 
take  away  the  sting  of  death,  and  for- 
bid our  sorrowing  as  those  do  who  have 
no  comfortable  grounds  of  hope  for  their 
departed   friends  ? 

"  I  hope,  dear  sister,  that  we  shall 
always  remember,  in  earnest,  persevering 
prayer,  those  of  our  friends  who  are 
still  out  of  the  Ark  of  Safety,  and 
that  the  providence  of  God,  in  remov- 
ing this  beloved  mother,  may  awaken 
us  all  more  and  more  to  the  realities 
of   the   eternal   future. 

"  I  had  a  conversation  with  mother, 
when  she  visited  us  in  July,  in  rela- 
tion to  her  Christian  hope.  It  was  in 
the  evening,  and  for  more  than  an  hour 
she  conversed  rationally  and  feelingly ; 
and  though  some  of  the  time  she  was 
unconscious  who  we  were,  yet  her  answers 


70  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

to  the  questions  of  Lucy  and  myself 
were  exceedingly  satisfactory,  just  such 
as  we  could  have  desired.  To  the 
question,  '  Do  you  not  think  that,  as 
you  have  professed  Christ,  and  honored 
Him  in  your  life,  trained  up  your  chil- 
dren as  faithfully  as  you  have,  and  been 
in  some  degree  useful  in  the  world,  it 
will  avail  something  towards  your  salva- 
tion ? '  she  replied,  with  great  earnest- 
ness, '  Oh,  no,  no ;  do  you  ?  My  only 
hope  is  in  Christ — precious,  precious 
Saviour  ! '  Afterwards,  while  speaking  of 
herself  as  '  a  great  sinner,'  she  was 
asked,  '  On  what,  then,  do  you  hope 
for  salvation  ? '  She  answered  by  repeat- 
ing  the   verse, 

'  There  is  a   fountain   filled   with   blood, 
Drawn   from   Immanuel's   veins, 
And  sinners,  plunged  beneath  that  flood, 
Lose    all  their   guilty  stains.' 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  71 

"  Oh,  it  would  have  done  joii  good, 
dear  sister,  to  have  heard  her.  The 
recollection  of  that  scene  is  very  grati- 
fying and  comforting  to  us  now.  I  held 
this  conversation  with  her,  to  ascertain 
how  far,  when  every  thing  else  was  for- 
gotten, religious  truth  had  its  hold  on 
her  mind  ;  and  surely  it  must  have  con- 
vinced any  skeptic  that  religion  was  a 
divine    reality. 

"  Mother  passed  away  from  earth  on 
Wednesday,  August  30th,  at  10  o'clock, 
after  much  suffering,  both  bodily  and 
mental ;  but  it  is  all  over  now.  No 
more  sin,  no  more  darkness  or  pain,  no 
more  weeping,  no  more  death.  Yes, 
sainted  mother,  thou  art 

'Asleep   in   Jesus,  blessed  sleep, 
From  which  none  ever  wakes  to  weep.' 

"And  now,  dear  sister  H.,  and   father 


72  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  mother  have   had  a   happy  meeting, 
to  part  no   more  forever. 

"  Your  brother, 

*'  Charles." 

"  Dear  Sister  C.  : — 

"  Your  letter,  written  in  March, 
was  received  last  week,  and,  with  deep 
regret,  we  learn  that  you  have  been  sick 
and  afflicted.  I  have  long  feared  this, 
by  what  has  been  written,  from  time  to 
time,  and  have  been  kept  in  a  state  of 
painful  solicitude.  How  does  my  heart 
bleed  for  you,  dear  C.  Truly,  you  are 
the  ones  who  have  '  seen  afQiction,*  but 
let  us  not  add,  with  impatience  and  in- 
gratitude, by  the  *  rod  of  his  wrath.' 

"  I  rejoice  to  learn  that  you  do  not 
feel  inclined  to  say  so,  but  thank  God 
for  it,  for  once  you  would  have  rebelled. 
Now  you  find  what  comfort  and  support 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  73 

faith  in  Christ  can  give,  both  in  want, 
sickness,   or  distress   of   any  kind. 

"  While  reading  the  account  of  your 
sufferings,  I  could  not  help  weeping  for 
you  ;  but  when  you  wrote  that  '  your 
husband  was  resigned  to  the  will  of  God, 
and  not  only  so,  but  that  he  was,  at 
times,  happy  and  longing  to  depart,  and 
be  with  Christ,'  I  could  and  did  rejoice, 
more  than  if  you  had  found  gold ;  yea, 
more  than  if  you  had  in  possession  all 
the  good  things  of  this  perishing  world, 
for  what  would  all  this  avail  the  soul, 
if  it  had  no  better  or  higher  portion  ? 

"■  And  you,  too,  dear  sister,  can  say, 
I  am  resigned  to  the  will  of  Him  who 
has  said,  '  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor 
forsake  thee  !'  Oh,  my  dear  C,  the  pro- 
cess by  which  you  have  both  been  brought 
to  this  state  of  submission  and  resigna- 
tion to  the  Divine  Will,  has  been  pecu- 

7 


74  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

liarly  painful.  How  many  years  of  pain- 
ful suffering  did  you  endure  before  you 
left  home,  and  even  since,  you  have  but 
doubled  your  sorrows.  At  the  West  you 
experienced  sickness,  misfortune,  be- 
reavement, and  now — but  it  is  all  right. 
It  is  just  the  way  in  which  you  must 
be  brought  to   trust   in  God. 

Afflictions  are  the  only  blessings  which 
God  has  profnised  without  our  asking  for 
them.  Still,  tliey  are  afflictions,  and  we 
feel  for  you,  and  continually  remember 
you  at  a  throne  of  Grace,  for  they  are 
at  present,  '  not  joyous,  but  grievous ;' 
but  being  sanctified  they  will  work  out 
for  you  '  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eter- 
nal weight  of  glory.' 

"  You  do,  I  trust,  go  unceasingly  to 
Him  who  alone  can  help  you.  Look  con- 
stantly to  the  great  physician  of  body 
and   soul,   to    '  the   Rock    that  is   higher 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  75 

than  you,'  to  the  only  sure  refuge,  the 
brother  born  for  adversity,  the  Almighty 
Saviour,  the  Infinite  Redeemer,  the  faith- 
ful God.  Here,  and  here  only,  is 
strength  and  consolation  to  be  found. 
Pardon  also  and  peace ;  yea,  life  ever- 
lasting in  that  blessed  world  where  there 
is  no  sin,  consequently  no  suffering,  and 
where  the  inhabitants  shall  no  more  say, 
'  I  am  sick,'  where  all  is  holiness  and 
joy,  infinite,  eternal.  Oh,  dear  Catharine, 
how  rich  the  grace  that  makes  us  wretch- 
ed sinners  partakers  of  such  glorious 
hopes  I 

^'  Yours  in  love, 

"  Charles   Morse." 

"  My   Dear   Sister  : — 

"  I  fear  that  some  of  my  letters 
may  not  reach  you,  and  1  have  felt  some 
anxiety  about  them,  as  it  would  be  such 


76  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

a  loss  to  you,  (that  is,  the  money,)  for  I 
am  conscious  that  the  written  contents 
cannot  be  of  much  value,  though  I  do 
not  think  you  would  lightly  estimate  my 
attempts  to  comfort  you,  and,  as  far  as 
may  be,  to  alleviate  your  sufferings.  But 
I  feel  my  own  impotency,  dear  C,  to 
remove,  or,  very  essentially,  to  mitigate 
your  sorrows.  Nothing  but  Omnipotence 
can  effect  this,  and  I  do  rejoice  that 
you  kno.w  and  feel  it  a  privilege  to 
leave  yourself  in  His  hands,  who  doeth 
all   things  well. 

''  Although  ou.r  heavenly  Father  does 
not  promise  to  remove  afflictions  always, 
even  when  we  pour  out  our  petitions 
before  him,  yet  He  has  promised  to  make 
'  His  grace  sufficient  for  us.'  I  believe 
that  you  are  in  a  good  and  increasing 
degree,  realizing  this,  and  by  the  feeling 
and  experience  expressed  in  your  letters. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  77 

bearing   testimony  to   the    faithfulness    of 
your    God. 

"  You  do  feel,  sometimes,  when  you 
go  to  the  mercy-seat,  a  degree  of  light 
and  quiet  trust  in  Him  ;  and  then  there 
is  peace,  and  you  are  disposed  to  hope 
that  you  are  his  child,  and  that  He 
regards  you  with  favor.  But,  ah,  you 
say,  '  these  feelings  are  transient,  and 
clouds  return,  and  all  is  dark  and  dreary  ; 
faith  staggers,  corrupt  nature  rises,  com- 
plains and  rebels.'  I  suppose  that  at 
such  seasons  you  discover  more  of  the 
hidden  evils  of  your  heart,  and  are  ready 
to  write  bitter  things  against  yourself, 
and  despondingly,  if  not  despairingly,  say, 
'  I  cannot  be  a  child  of  God.'  But  I  be- 
lieve that  if  the  compassionate  Saviour 
regards  His  followers  with  more  love  and 
favor  at  one  time  than  another,  it  is 
ivhen    the    soul,    pressed     down    with    a 


78  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

sense  of  its  guilt  and  unworthiness,  and 
its  utter  inability  to  do  any  thing  of 
itself,  stretches  out  the  hand,  amid  the 
darkness  and  gloom,  and  cries,  '  Lord,  I 
believe ;  help  Thou  my  unbelief.'  It  is 
then  that  the  Saviour,  full  of  all  mercy, 
is  watching  with  infinite  interest  and 
favor,  the  soul,  which  is  by  this  process 
to  be  sanctified,  and  made  meet  for  the 
inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light. 

"  Such  scenes  as  this  are  like  those 
of  Bunyan's  Pilgrim  in  his  conflict  with 
Apollyon,  in  the  Valley  of  Humiliation. 
But  he  conquered,  and  so  will  every 
Christian,  and  be  made  even  more  than 
conquerors,  '  through  Him  who  loved 
us.'  If  Christians  are  to  be  sanctified, 
this  is  the  way  ;  and  affliction  is  the  lot 
of  all  Christ's  followers,  for  it  is  written, 
'  These  are  they  which  have  come  out 
of    great    tribulation,  and   washed    their 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  79 

robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb.'  Again,  we  find,  '  In 
this  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation.' 
'  By  grace  are  we  saved,'  and  by  grace 
we  must  live.  You,  dear  sister,  have,  I 
trust,  tasted  this  grace,  and  what  could 
you  now   do   without   it  ? 

"  You  might  have  been  called  to  suffer 
all  you  now  endure  without  the  helping 
hand  of  a  covenant  God.  Do  you  ever 
think  of  this  ?  Can  you  not  then  sing 
or    say, 

'Oh,   to   gi*ace,   how   great  a   debtor ?' 

"  Grace     is     increased     by     sanctified 

affliction,   because    in   seasons    of    severe 

affliction  the  soul  has   no   refuge   but  in 

God ;   it   finds   no   adequate   support   but 

i   in   the   Omnipotent   Ai-m. 

"  I  do  think,  my  dear  sister,  that  your 
profit  has  appeared  during  your  pro- 
tracted trials,  and   tliere  is  evidence  that 


80  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

you  have  made  some  spiritual  attain- 
ments in  the  divine  life.  Remember,  I 
do  not  say  this  to  flatter  you,  for  it 
would  be  an  unkind  and  wicked  thing 
so  to  do,  but  I  say  it  to  encourage  and 
comfort  you.  You  are  constantly  re- 
membered by  me  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  I  trust  that  you  will  there  remem- 
ber us ;  will  you  not  ?  Let  us  be  mu- 
tual helpers  to  each  other  heavenward. 

'  When  througli  the  deep  waters  I  call  thee  to  go, 
The   rivers   of  sorrow   shall  not   overflow ; 
For  I   wiU  be  with   thee,  thy  troubles   to  bless, 
And  I  sanctify   to  thee   thy   deepest   distress. 
When   through   fiery  trials  thy  pathway  shall  lie, 
My   grace,   aU-sufficient,   shall   be   thy   supply ; 
The  flame   shaU  not   hurt  thee,   I   only   design 
Thy   dross  to   consume   and  the   gold   to  refine.' 

"I   do  long  to  see  you,  and  I  indulge 
in    the    hope    that    somehow^    in    God's 


CHRISTIAN      MECHANIC.  81 

kind  providence,  circumstances  may  be 
favorable,  so  that  I  may  visit  you.  But, 
in  the  meanwhile,  let  us  continually  pray 
for  each  other  to  our  blessed  Saviour, 
who   is    a   brother   born    for   adversity. 

"  The  state  of  business  here,  as  you 
probably  know,  is  distressing,  and  so, 
indeed,  it  is  throughout  the  country. 
God  help  the  poor,  or  they  must  suffer. 
But  I  hope  there  are  better  times 
coming.  Times  !  times  I  It  is  eter- 
nity which  should  occupy  our  anxious 
thoughts. 

"  Your  affectionate  brother, 

"  Charles." 

"  My  Dear   Sister  C.  :— 

"  From  necessity,  I  have  delayed 
answering  your  letter,  and  now  what 
shall  I  say  to  console  or  strengthen  you  ? 


82  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

You  need  something  more  than  it  is 
in  my  power  to  impart.  I  feel  that  your 
condition  is  one  of  no  ordinary  trial. 
A  long,  protracted  season  of  sickness  and 
suffering,  away  from  the  help  and  sym- 
pathy of  friends,  must  and  will,  at 
times,  wring  from  the  agonized  heart, 
the  cry,  '  Why,  oh  why  is  it  thus  V  But, 
dear,  suffering  sister,  this  is  not  the  cry 
of  faith,  but  of  poor,  weak,  suffering 
human  nature.  It  is  God's  own  hand 
which  is  laying  on  this  rod,  Catharine, 
and  none  other ;  will  you  try  to  re- 
member this  wlien  you  are  ready  to  say, 
^  This  evil  is  of  the  Lord,  why  should  I 
wait  for  Him  any  longer  ?'  Remember, 
I  say,  that  despair  will  not  help  you, 
will  not  remove  one  evil,  but  rather 
increase   it. 

"  You  will  say,   '  I  know  all   this,  but 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  83 

it  avails  me  nothing.'  Well,  then,  dear 
sister,  look  to  Jesus ;  He  knows  all  your 
sufferings,  and  is  watching,  with  all  the 
interest  of  infinite  love,  the  effect  of 
your  trials  and  temptations,  and  He  will, 
if  you  endure  faithfully,  cause  them  to 
work  out  for  you  '  a  far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory.'  You  know 
who  it  is  that  ^  sits  as  a  refiner '  over 
the  furnace  where  he  has  placed  His 
richest  treasures,  and  when  He  can  dis- 
cover his  own  image  written  there.  He 
will  bring  them  forth  and  use  them  for 
His  own  honor  and  glory.  May  God  give 
you  grace  and  patience  to  suffer  a  little 
longer,  and  then,  how  sweet  will  heaven 
be! 

"  I  am  aware  of  the  truth  of  your 
remark,  that  'it  is  easy  for  those  who 
do   not   suffer    to   preach    patience ;'    and 


84  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

SO  conscious  am  I  of  my  own  weakness 
that  I  fear  I  should  faint  in  the  day  of 
adversity ;  but  I  can  assure  you,  my 
dear  sister,  that  I  am  not  without  trials 
myself,  and  indeed,  who  is  ?  I  should 
like  to  suggest  some  words  of  comfort  to 
you,  if  I  could,  and  you  know  that  I  do 
tiot  end  by  saying,  '  Be  ye  warned,  &c.' 
"  In  your  letters  you  have  quoted 
largely  from  David's  complaints,  to  ex- 
press your  own  sorrows,  and  they  are 
very  appropriate  ;  but  does  he  not  also 
say,  '  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  oh  my 
soul,  and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within 
me  ?  Hope  thou  in  God,  for  I  shall  yet 
praise  Him,'*  And  you,  dear  sister,  will 
yet  praise  Him ;  if  not  in  this  world, 
you  will  in  a  better,  where  you  will 
again  meet  your  departed  ones,  and 
where   you  will   see   and  understand  the 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  85 

wisdom  and  love  of  all  God's  dealings 
with  you  here.  What  you  know  not 
noio  you   icill  know   hereafter. 

'  God   is   His   own   Interpreter, 
And    he   ■will   make   it  plain.' 

''  Truly   yours, 

"  Charles. 
"  Enclosed   is   ten  dollars." 

"  Neivburyport^   Aug-.    8. 
'^  Dear  Brother  James: — 

"  How  earthly  flowers  do  fade ! 
You,  my  brother,  have  witnessed  the 
sad  and  painful  truth  of  this  in  your 
own  case.  The  most  valuable  and 
choicest  flower  in  your  domestic  enclos- 
ure is  '  cut  down  and  withered,'  even 
while  you  were  rejoicing  that  another 
precious  bud  had  been  added  to  your 
number.     How   was   I  surprised  to  learn 


bb  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

that  your  Sarah  was  no  more.  It  was 
so  sudden,  so  unexpected,  that  I  can- 
not,  even   yet,   realize   it. 

"  To  you,  my  dear  brother,  it  must 
have  been  a  heavy  blow,  and  I  try  to 
sympathize  with  you  in  this  sudden 
bereavement.  Your  loss,  I  know,  must 
be  deep,  painful,  distressing,  for  she  was 
your  companion  in  life,  ever  by  your 
side,  your  other  self.  Now  you  know 
the  full  meaning  of  that  word,  alone  I 
She  was  your  counselor,  your  tried 
friend,  the  sharer  of  your  sorrows  and 
joys,  and  a  helper  in  your  every  bur- 
den. You  walked  hand  in  hand  with' 
her,  along  the  pathway  of  life,  helpers 
of  each  other  in  the  Christian  course. 
She  was  the  mother  of  your  little  ones, 
too,  their  instructor  and  guide  in  the 
way  of  truth  and  duty.  All  this,  and 
more    than   all   this,    is   in   one    moment 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  87 

torn  from  jou,  and  in  view  of  this,  I 
do  not  wonder  that  you  cry  out,  '  my 
heart  is  desolate.'  How  gladly  would  I 
suggest  some  topics  of  consolation  in 
this,  your  hour  of  deep  affliction,  but 
I  feel  incapable  of  doing  it,  for  your 
heart  alone  knows  its  own  bitterness.  I 
said,  alone.  No,  brother,  there  is  One 
other  who  knows  full  well  all  your  trial, 
all  your  sorrow.  He  knows ^  for  his  own 
hand  inflicted  the  painful  blow.  He 
feels,  for  His  heart  is  made  of  tender- 
ness and  love,  and  '  He  does  not  will- 
ingly afflict  the  children  of  men.'  '  As 
a  father  pitieth  his  children,  so  the  Lord 
piticth  them,'  even  whom  He  eludes,  if 
they  fear  Him. 

"  Think  of  the  mercies  attending  the 
sickness  and  death  of  your  dear  one. 
You  had  the  privilege  of  doing  for  her 
all   that  could  be   done.      You   were   not 


88  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

at  that  time  absent  from  home,  but 
were  with  her  to  conyerse  and  pray 
with  her,  and  hear  her  express  such 
peace  and  joy  in  the  near  view  of 
death.  You  have  comfortable  assurance 
that,  as  a  Christian  believer,  she  has 
now  gone  to  be  forever  with  the  Lord, 
These  are  mercies  you  should  not  over- 
look, and  do  not  allow  the  tears  of 
grief  so  to  dim  your  eyes  that  you 
cannot  see  the  mercies  and  comforts 
whicli  still  remain.  Remember  the  throne 
of   grace,  where, 

'  Our  sorrows  and  our  tears  we  pour, 
Into  the  bosom    of   our    God: 
He  hears  us  in  the  mournful  hour, 
And  helps  «s  hear  the  heavy  load.* 

"  Oh,  my  brother  James,  may  this 
affliction  be  sanctified  to  you,  for  it  is 
sanctified  affliction  only   that  will  profit; 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  89 

and  may  we  learn  by  this  providence 
that  we  do  all  fade  as  a  leaf,  and  be 
quickened  to  diligence  and  fidelity  in 
the  performance  of  duty,  patiently  suf- 
fering all  the  righteous  will  of  our 
heavenly   Fatlier  unto   the  end. 

"  I   will   conclude    by   committing   you 
to  the  care  of  Him  who  careth  for  iis  all. 
"  Your  brother, 

"  Charles.'' 


EXTRACT       FRO  INI     A     LETTER     TO 
HIS      BROTHER      JAI\IES. 

"  Your  remark  as  to  the  state  of  the 
churches  among  you,  may,  with  truth, 
be  applied  to  the  churches  in  this 
region.  Still,  there  are  some  few  con- 
versions among  us  recently,  which  encour- 
age    God's   children    still    to    pray,    and 


90  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

labor,  and  hope  for  greater  things  than 
these. 

"  I  am  glad  to  learn  that  your  Sab- 
bath school  is  in  an  encouraging  and 
prosperous  condition.  I  hope  you  will 
be  instrumental  of  much  good  in  that 
part  of  the  Lord's  vineyard,  but  tliere 
must  be  devotion  to  the  cause  in  order 
to  be  successful.  I  am  sorry  to  say 
there  is  nothing  particularly  interesting 
in   our    school,   but    we  '  labor   in   hope."^ 

"  Business  here,  at  present,  is  very 
dull,  but  it  has  been  very  good  the 
past  year.  Four  hundred  dollars  with 
you  in  Illinois  is  better  than  eight 
here ;  at  least,  I  think  so.  But  I  obtain 
a  comfortable  living,  and  keep  free  from 
debt,  and  have  no  disposition  to  com- 
plain ;  yet  I  should  like  something  more, 
if   it  was   the    will  of    Providence,    that 


CHRISTIAN     M  E  C  H  A  NIC.  91 

I   might   be   able    to  give   more    to    those 
who    are   needy. 

''•  And  so,  brother  James,  I  must  rehn- 
quish  the  hope  of  seeing  you  again 
very  soon,  judging  by  what  I  gather 
from  your  letter ;  but  do  write  oftener, 
won't  you  ?  Do  you  remember  your 
visit  here  ?  Does  not  your  heart  cling 
with  tenacity  to  the  fond  associations 
connected  with  tliat  visit?  Was  it  not 
sweet  and  pleasant  to  us  ?  I  can  never 
forget  it ;  those  were  some  of  the  hap- 
piest moments  of  my  life,  and  my  heart 
is  now  rising  and  swelling  while  I  think 
of  them.  But  they  have  passed  away 
— father  has  passed  away — our  friends, 
many  of  them,  have  passed  away,  and 
2ve  stand  among  the  '  fallen  and  fall- 
ing,' and  soon  we  also  shall  be  gone, 
and  oh,   may  it  be    to   that 


02  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

'  Happy  land,  far,  far  away, 
Where  saints  in  glory  stand, 
Bright,  bright  as  day.' 

"  And  now,  my  dear  brother,  I  com- 
mend you  to  God,  witli  all  that  is 
yours,  trusting  that  we  shall  yet  again 
see  each  other's  face  in  the  flesh  ;  but 
if  not,  Ihe  will  of  God  be  done. 
"  Your   affectionate   brother, 

"  Charles.'* 


CHRISTIAN     RI  E  C  H  A  N  I  C  .  93 


CHAPTER    Y. 

UNION      WITH       THE      CHURCH. 

In  June,  1830,  Mr.  Morse  united  with 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  of  New- 
buryport,  then  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Proudfit.  This  step  was 
not  taken  without  reflection  and  prayer, 
and  even  long  struggle,  for  the  gradual 
unfolding  of  God's  purpose  in  his  soul 
Avas  so  quiet,  so  characterized  by  deep 
humility,  that  he  liesitated  whether,  in- 
deed, he  bore  "  the  Spirit's  seal."  AYhen, 
at  length,  the  trembling  Christian  took 
liis  stand,  wlien  he  put  on  the  armor 
which    was     waiting   for    him,    he    made 


94  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

an  entire  consecration    of  himself  to   his 
Maker's   service. 

From  the  hour  in  which  he  united 
himself  to  the  visible  church,  he  gained 
strength  and  cheerfulness,  and  his  course 
was  evidently  onward  and  upward.  He 
had  laid  all  on  the  altar  of  God,  and 
the  one  controlling  question  of  his  life 
henceforth  was,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do  ? "  He  did  not  recoil 
from  duty,  however  arduous ;  he  did 
not  ask,  is  it  pleasant  or  convenient, 
or  try  to  shape  it  to  his  plans.  The 
simple  question  settled,  "  Is  it  my  duty  ?  " 
he  went  forward,  doing  his  best  to  per- 
form it.  This  sanctified  determination 
of  character  led  him  where  many 
a  good  man  might  have  halted,  and 
kept  him  to  a  purpose  from  which  many 
might  have  desisted,  in  discouragement. 
He    was    wont   to    say,   "  By    the    grace 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  95 

of  God,  wluit   any  man    can    do,    I    can 
do." 

The  views  of  Mr.  Morse  in  refj:ard  to 
the  central  doctrines  of  the  gospel  were 
very  clear  and  decided.  From  the  first 
dawning  of  spiritual  light,  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  go  to  the  Word  of  God  with 
all  his  difficulties,  never  admitting  a 
doctrine  because  it  was  currently  received, 
or  found  in  his  own  denomination,  but 
requiring  for  its  sanction,  ^'  Thus  saith 
the  Lord."  When  this  was  evident,  it 
was  enough,  and  no  matter  how  myste- 
rious, or  how  much  assailed  it  might 
be,  he  stood  firm  and  immovable.  His 
assent  was  not  easily  won  and  lightly 
held,  but  a  matter  of  slow  formation, 
the  result  of  earnest,  prolonged  and 
prayerful  investigation,  and  once  formed, 
he  clung  to  it.  His  regard  for  evan- 
gelical   truth    was  no    mechanical    adher- 


96  CHRISTIAN     1\I  E  C  H  A  N  I  C  . 

encG  to  a  system,  but  a  reverent  loyalty 
to  the  truth  God  had  revealed — truth 
as  precious  as  it  was  vital.  Some  one 
remarked  of  him,  ''  He  was  of  such 
material  as  martyrs  were  made  of,  and 
lie  would  have  gone  to  the  stake  in 
defense  of  truth,  if  duty  had  called  him 
to   it." 

One  of  the  most  marked  cliaracteristics 
of  his  belief,  was  a  conviction  of  the 
utter  sinfulness  of  the  human  heart.  So 
deep  and  pungent  had  been  the  testi- 
mony of  liis  own  consciousness  in  regard 
to  depravity,  so  clearly  did  he  see  it 
painted  in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  as  in- 
herent in  man,  that  he  spoke  of  it 
always  in  the  most  strong  and  direct 
terms,  as  a  terrible  fact,  terrible  in  its 
nature  and  in  its  consequence.  Ho 
turned  then  to  the  atonement  of  Jesus 
Christ,     as    the     sovereign     remedy,     the 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  97 

Almighty  rescue  for  man ;  and  with 
melting  gratitude,  he  made  it  the  foun- 
dation of  his  own  hope,  and  the  plea  on 
which  he  rested  all  his  appeals  to  others. 
While  the  other  doctrines  of  revealed  re- 
ligion were  dear  and  sacred,  having  tlieir 
place  in  his  mind,  they  were  all  clus- 
tered around  this  great  central  one  of 
the   atonement. 

His  union  with  the  church  of  Christ 
was  not  to  Mr.  Morse  merely  an  indi- 
vidual act  of  obedience  to  Him  who 
has  bidden  such  remembrance,  but  it 
was  a  fraternal  act.  Like  one  who  has 
enlarged  his  family  connexions,  he  had 
new  ties,  and  the  children  of  the  same 
communion  became  especially  dear  to 
him.  He  interested  himself  in  the  pub- 
lic and  private  prosperity  of  the  church. 
Yet  his  interest  was  very  different  from 
that  mere  business  participation  in  duty. 


98  CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

wliicli  makes  itself  felt  principally  in 
every  new  arrangement  or  external  fact 
of  the  churcli,  and  comes  in  with  a 
bustling  air  of  dictation,  sure  to  be  of- 
fended if  not  implicitly  followed.  What- 
e\er  was  best  for  all,  was  best  in  the 
view  of  this  brother.  He  labored  in  his 
quiet  but  most  faithful  way,  to  promote 
mutual  growth  and  progress.  He  was 
prompt  in  kind  counsel,  and  his  counsel 
was  as  judicious  and  delicate  as  it  was 
kind,  prompt  in  sympathy,  and  in  all 
friendly  offices.  If  any  member  suffered 
in  body  or  mind,  among  the  first  to 
visit  him,  to  feel  for  him,  and,  as  far 
as  might  be,  act  for  him,  was  this 
brother  in  Christ.  In  all  this  he  was 
not  clanish.  No !  he  was  only  true  to 
his    covenant   obligations. 

The      following     letter,     written     after 
twenty-five    years   of  service   had   proved 


.     CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  99 

the  union  of  his  practice  and  tlieory  of 
faithful  discipleship,  was  addressed  by 
him  to  a  young  friend  who  had  just 
united   liimself   to  the    church  of   Christ. 

"  Newhuryport^   July   18,  1855. 
"  My  Deae    Xephew  : — 

''  I  have  just  received  the  joyful 
intelligence  that  God,  in  His  rich  grace, 
has  given  His  Spirit  to  convince  you  of 
the  infinitely  important  truth  that  you 
were  a  lost  sinner,  and  that  Jesus  Christ 
died  to  save  you.  and  that  you  have 
made  a  public  profession  of  repentance 
towards  God,  and  faith  in  the  Saviour, 
and  have  determined  to  devote  your  life 
to   His    service. 

I  wish,  if  it  is  so,  to  rejoice  with  you, 
and  ascribe  the  glory  to  tlie  riches  of 
His  distinguishing  grace.  And  now,  per- 
mit  me,   my    dear   young    friend,  to  give 


100         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

you  a  word  of  counsel  and  encourage- 
ment, for  interest  in  your  future  wel- 
fare and  influence  as  a  professed  disciple, 
prompts   me   to   do   it. 

"  You  know  that  it  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  commence  aright  the  du- 
ties of  a  Christian  course.  I  hope  that 
you  have  counted  the  cost,  for  your  work 
is  but  just  begun,  and  it  is  a  work 
from  which  you  must  never  recede  — 
never  look  back.  It  is  a  constant,  self- 
denying  work,  with  crosses  to  endure, 
your  own  corrupt  nature  to  contend 
with,  opposition  from  the  avowed  ene- 
mies of  religion,  and,  too  often,  hostility 
from  its  professed   friends. 

"  Well  may  you  ask,  '  Who  is  suffi- 
cient for  these  things  ? '  Oh,  not  one  ! 
God  knows  that  of  yourself  you  can  do 
nothing  ;  yet,  if  you  are  a  Christian,  He 
has  called  you  to  this  work  by  His  grace, 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         101 

and  that  same  Omnipotent  grace  is 
pledged  for  your  support.  '  Lo,  I  am 
with   you   always.' 

"Trust  then  in  Him,  my  dear  young 
friend,  and  if  faithful  to  your  Master, 
to  the  souls  around  you,  and  to  your- 
self, you  will  find  that  though  the  work 
He  gives  you  to  do  be  arduous,  still  it 
will  be   a   delightful   work. 

"  And,  now,  my  dear  Edward,  as  you 
go  forth  into  the  vineyard,  by  your 
Saviour's  command,  let  me  entreat  you 
that  whatever  duty  He  calls  you  to  per- 
form, you  will  do  it  promptly,  faithfully. 
"Whenever  you  have  occasion  to  speak  to 
sinners  around  you,  of  His  love  and  the 
great  salvation,  to  warn  them,  to  be- 
seech them  to  be  reconciled  to  God,  or 
whenever  called  upon  to  take  an  active 
part  in  meetings  of  devotion,  (this  has 
been   a  great  trial  to  some  young  Christ- 


102         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

iaiis,  the  neglect  of  which  has  greatly  re- 
tarded their  progress,  limited  their  use- 
fulness, and  prevented  their  future  com- 
fort and  enjoyments,)  or  to  discharge 
any  duty  from  which  you  may  be  tempted 
to  shrink,  depend  upon  it,  dear  Edward, 
that  you  will  find  it  more  easy,  more 
comfortable  and  pleasant  not  to  hesitate, 
or  confer  with  flesh  and  blood,  not  to 
parley  with  pride  or  self-ease,  but  to 
decide  immediately  to  '  take  up  your 
cross,'  '  looking  to  Jesus,'  who  has 
promised  the  aid  of  His  Spirit  to  teach 
and   strengthen  you. 

"  But  I  trust  that  you  will  not  be 
satisfied  with  acting  from  the  mere  con- 
viction of  duty  alone ;  no,  there  is  a 
higher,  nobler,  stronger  motive  of  action, 
^  the  love  of  Christ  constraining  you.' 
This  love  will  not  only  enable  you  to 
do   His   will,  but    patiently   to  suffer    it, 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         103 

to  bear  reproach,  and  to  endure  perse- 
cution  meekly  for   His   sake. 

"  The  Bible  abounds  in  rich  promises 
and  instructions  for  you  ;  make  it  then 
your  counselor  and  guide,  study  it  daily, 
constantly,  for  it  is  '  able  to  make  you 
wise  unto  salvation.'  And  while  there 
are  so  many  conflicting  views  of  religion, 
even  among  those  who  profess  to  take 
the  Bible  for  their  standard,  this  we  do 
kriou'^  for  Christ  has  declared,  that,  '  If 
any  man  will  do  His  will,  he  shall  know 
of  the  doctrine,   whether   it   be  of  God.' 

''  Edward,  you  may  not  have  been  ac- 
customed to  hear  much  of  Orthodox 
preaching ;  I  mean  the  great  doctrines 
of  depravity,  man's  utter  ruin,  the  atone- 
ment, regeneration  by  God's  Spirit,  jus- 
tification by  faith,  ka.  But  if  you  are 
a  Christian  you  will  desire  to  know 
more    and    more    of    these    things,   espe- 


104         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

cially  of  this  one,  that  Christ  died  for 
sinners,  atoning  for  their  sins  by  shed- 
ding His  own  blood ;  for  does  not  the 
Bible,  (both  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments,) declare  that  '  Without  the  shed- 
ding of  blood  there  is  no  remission  of 
sin.'  Read  the  fifty- third  chapter  of 
Isaiah ;  read  all  the  Bible  ;  come  to  it 
with  earnest  prayer,  and  God  will,  by 
His  Spirit,  reveal  to  you  all  needful 
truth,  and  I  trust  make  you  wise  to  de- 
fend His  truth,  and  to  win  the  souls  of 
those  so  dear  to  you  to  Him,  to  '  the 
truth  as  it   is  in  Jesus.' 

"  I  trust  that  you  have  found  before 
tliis,  that  '  prayer  is  the  Christian's  vital 
breath.'  All  real  Christians  have  proved 
that  spiritual  life  cannot  exist  without 
it.  I  trust  that  you  have  a  place  of 
daily,  secret  resort,  where  you  meet 
with   your   Saviour,   and  where   you   can 


CHRISTIAN      MECHANIC.  105 

make  a  full  confession  of  sin,  seek  the 
application  of  His  precious  blood,  ob- 
tain the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
sanctify,  quicken,  comfort  and  strengthen 
you,  and  so  prepare  you  for  usefulness 
in  the  church,  and  in  the  world.  God 
has  promised  '  all  grace  '  to  those  who  seek 
it,  and  more  than  this.  He  has  promised 
to  crown  that   grace   with   glory. 

"  1  have  written  thus  plainly  in  regard 
to  what  I  believe  to  be  gospel  truths, 
and  I  think  you  will  pardon  me,  for  they 
are  of  vital  importance.  It  is  of  in- 
finite consequence  what  a  man  believes, 
as  his  belief  will  influence  his  practice, 
and  the  results  vrill  extend  into  the 
eternal  future.  Therefore  study,  '  cearch 
the  Scriptures,'  that  you  may  be  wise  in 
its  truths ;  seek  by  earnest  prayer  for 
the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  keep 
you,    to    sanctify   you,    and    enable   you 


lOG         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

SO  to  live  that  your  example  may  re- 
commend the  religion  you  have  professed. 
Let  your  motto  be  '  Onward  and  up- 
ward.' Who  knows  but  what  God  has 
called  you  out  of  that  family  circle  into 
His  kingdom,  that  you  may  become  the 
instrument,  through  Him,  of  leading 
them  to  Jesus,  of  pointing  them  to  the 
Lamb  of  God  ?  It  is  your  duty  so  to 
live  before  them  that  this  may  be  the 
case. 

"  I  desire  most  earnestly  to  see  you, 
for  I  have  many  things  yet  to  say, 
which  I  cannot  write.  May  I  not  hope 
that  you  will  visit  us  soon  ?  In  the 
meantime  I  wish  you  would  write  me, 
and  freely  and  fully  express  your  views 
and  feelings,  for  you  have  many  Christ- 
ian friends  here,  who  feel  a  deep  in- 
terest  in   you. 

"  And   now,   I   commend   you    to    God, 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         107 

desiring  that  you  may  be  '  kept  by  His 
mighty  power,  through  faith  unto  sal- 
vation.' 

"  Your   affectionate   uncle, 

'•  Charles   Morse." 


108         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC 


CHAPTER    YI. 

A      SABBATH      SCHOOL       TEACHER. 
"  Feed   my    lambs."— John  21  :  15. 

The  religious  training  of  the  young 
was  regarded  by  Mr.  Morse  as  a  most 
sacred  obligation  of  the  church.  He 
felt  that  He  who  had  signified  his  un- 
willingness that  any  one  of  these  little 
ones  should  perish,  required  this  work 
of  love  at  the  hands  of  his  people. 
Christ  had  left  this  duty  as  a  precious 
legacy,  and  who  would  disown  it  by 
neglect  'i 

Everv    Christian,    then,     should     have 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  109 

some  direct  instrumentality  in  tlie  cul- 
tivation and  direction  of  the  young. 
From  the  time  he  first  professed  himself 
a  follower  of  Chiist,  until  he  was 
withdrawn  from  all  earthly  labor,  Mr. 
Morse  was  in  some  way  connected  with 
the  instruction  in  the  Sabbath  school. 
He  regarded  the  institution  as  "  the 
nursery  for  heaven,"  and  he  loved  its 
service.  He  was  not  drawn  to  it  by  a 
cold  sense  of  duty,  nor  did  he  labor  in 
it  mechanically,  as  if  it  were  a  necessary 
toil,  but  with  genuine  earnestness,  be- 
cause he  loved  the  Saviour,  and  yearned 
to  have  the  young  around  him  made 
holy   and   happy   by   early   consecration. 

Such  was  his  conviction  of  the  impor- 
tance of  the  mission  of  the  Sabbath 
school  teacher,  and  his  intense  desire 
for  usefulness  in  it,  that  it  became  one 
of  the  most   prominent    aims   of  his  life. 


110         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

to  qualify  himself  for  it.  By  prayer, 
by  study,  by  extreme  watchfulness,  did 
he  strive  to  enrich  the  recitations  with 
knowledge,  to  present  truth  clearly  to 
the  mind,  and  to  direct  it  to  the  heart 
and   conscience. 

In  an  unusual  degree,  Mr.  Morse 
sought  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
individual  character  of  his  pupils.  They 
were  not  considered  as  persons  connected 
with  a  school  exercise  merely,  but  as 
those  whom  he  must  know  and  influ- 
ence, and  whose  relation  with  himself, 
when  once  formed,  would  never  be 
forgotten.  He  tried  to  secure  the  affec- 
tion of  his  pupils,  and  he  was  always 
in  the  habit  of  visiting  them  in  their 
own  home,  that  he  might  learn  more  of 
their  tastes  and  habits  of  thought,  and 
more  effectually  secure  the  confidence 
and    co-operation    of  their   parents. 


CHRISTIAN      M  E  C  H  A  NIC.  Ill 

Each  recitation  ^vas  to  him  a  subject 
of  fresh  interest.  In  preparing  for  it, 
his  method  was  to  study  the  given  por- 
tion of  Scripture,  and  draw  from  it  all 
the  instruction  he  could  obtain.  After 
meditating  on  this,  and  arranging  it  in 
his  own  mind,  he  sought  the  help  of 
such  notes,  commentaries  and  illustra- 
tions, as  were  accessible  to  him.  He 
used   to    say — 

'•  For  my  part,  I  should  prefer  to 
form  my  own  questions,  but  my  expe- 
rience has  been  that  the  lesson  is  better 
studied,  and  more  thoroughly  under- 
stood, by  most  classes,  with  the  aid  of 
a   question   book." 

His  strong  desire  to  do  good  pre- 
vented him  from  passing  over  the 
lesson  in  a  hackneyed  manner.  '•  I 
often  wonder  now,"  said  one  of  his 
pupils,   who    became   an     educated   man, 


112         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

"  when  I  remember  the  intelligence  and 
information  Mr.  Morse  used  to  bring  to 
his  class.  I  did  not  think  much  of  it 
then,  of  course,  but  for  a  man  whose 
time  was  spent  in  hard  labor,  it  now 
seems  to  me  quite  remarkable."  fie 
endeavored,  by  every  means  in  his 
power,  to  interest  and  instruct  his 
pupils,  but  he  did  not  forget  that  their 
spiritual  progress  was  the  great  object 
in  view.  Hence,  he  was  eminently  direct 
and  practical  in  his  teaching,  striving  to 
make  each  one  feel  that  he  had  a 
personal  interest  in  the  subject.  He  was 
not  satisfied  with  the  routine  of  the 
class,  but  he  often  detained  one  and 
another  after  the  usual  exercises,  or 
sought  other  opportunities  for  conver- 
sation, tliat  he  might  press  home  upon 
the  conscience  tlie  importance  of  a  re- 
newed   life. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         11  o 

If,  on  these  private  occasions,  he  found 
any  signs  of  awakened  sensibility,  he 
renewed  his  efforts  through  the  week, 
never  wearying  in  his  own  exertions, 
and  never  wearying  in  his  fervent  pe- 
titions that  the  Holy  Spirit  would  direct 
and  bless    those    efforts. 

In  his  discipline  he  was  kind,  but  firm. 
It  was  interesting  to  see  how  the  inat- 
tentive and  discourteous  manner  of  some 
lads,  yielded  to  the  magic  of  his  mild 
yet  decided  spirit.  He  seemed  to  expect 
courtesy  from  them,  and  they  learned 
to  respect  him  too  much  to  be  willing 
to  lower  themselves  in  his  esteem.  He 
encouraged  them  to  ask  questions,  and 
made  them  feel  that  he,  in  turn,  was  in- 
terested in  what  they  had  to  say.  Some 
teachers,  who  had  unruly  boys  in  their 
classes,  would  bring  them  to  him,  say- 
ing,   '-  Mr.     Morse,    I    can     do     nothing 

10* 


114         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

with  this  boy,  and  you  must  take  him ; 
you  ^Yill  know  just  how  to  manage 
him.'* 

One  Sabbath  morning  there  was  brought 
to  his  class,  a  hid  over  whom  no  one  had 
succeeded  in  gaining  any  control.  In- 
deed, he  had  given  so  much  trouble, 
that  it  v/as  thought  if  Mr.  Morse  would 
not  try  him,  it  would  be  necessary  to 
have  him  dismissed  from  the  school. 
After  Mr.  Morse  had  studied  his  char- 
acter for  awhile,  he  said  to  him,  one 
morning — 

"  You  might  be  something ;  there  is 
enough  in  you  to  make  a  good  man 
yet.  You  are  like  a  gem,  surrounded 
with  a  rougli,  unsightly  exterior,  and 
it  depends  very  mucli  on  your  own  will 
whether  this  gem  shall  ever  sliine,  or 
be   hidden   forever   in   darkness." 

And     then     with    affectionate    earnest- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  115 

ness,  and  that  tenderness  of  manner  so 
peculiar  to  himself,  he  so  pointed  out 
to  him  the  importance  of  raising  for 
himself  a  higher  standard  of  conduct, 
that   the   lad   was   wholly    subdued. 

^'  Why,"  said  he,  ''  no  one  ever  talked 
to  me  in  this  way  before.  I  did  not 
know  that  there  was  any  thing  good  in 
me  ;  I  did  not  even  think  that  I  might 
be   a   better   boy." 

After  this,  there  was  no  further  trou- 
ble  with   the   lad. 

A  superintendent  once  said  to  liim, 
"  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  Mr.  Morse, 
but  an  influence  is  all  the  time-  going 
out  from  your  class,  which  seems  to 
pervade   the   whole   school." 

AVe  have  already  alluded  to  one  trait 
of  character  which  is  too  little  culti- 
vated by  Christians,  generally — we  mean, 
a    willingaess    to,    surrender     individual 


116         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

tastes  and  preferences  for  the  good  of 
the  whole.  Mr.  Morse  was  very  sensi- 
tive to  a  refinement  and  harmony  of 
feeling  in  those  around  him,  and  very 
tenacious  in  his  attachments,  so  that  it 
was  peculiarly  agreeable  to  him  to  avoid 
all  change  ;  yet  more  than  once  he  gave 
up  an  interesting  class,  who  were  very 
congenial  to  him,  to  take  one  less 
promising  and  more  difficult.  Such  sac- 
rifices of  feeling  are  a  rarer  offering  to 
God  than  even  money  or  energy,  and 
they  show  very  significantly  where  the 
heart  is. 

One  who  has  arrived  at  mature  age, 
and  who,  when  quite  a  young  lad,  was 
in  his  class  at  the  Beck  Street  Chapel, 
recently  remarked  that  he  always  thought 
that  Mr.  Morse  was  entirely  different  from 
any  teacher  he  had  ever  had  before.  "  He 
not  only  wanted  to  make  his  pupils  good, 


CHRISTIAN     IMECHANIC.         117 

but  he  tried  also  to  make  them  happy. 
During  tlie  summer,  he  would  often 
hire  a  boat,  and  take  his  class  to  sail, 
and  thus  try  to  secure  their  confidence 
and   love." 

"  Oh,"  said  another,  wlio,  during  the 
winter  of  1858  became  a  hopeful  sub- 
ject of  renewing  grace,  "  when  I  look 
back,  and  think  of  Mr.  Morse's  instruc- 
tions, how  earnestly  he  labored  with  me, 
how  faithfully  he  warned  me,  how  affec- 
tionately he  entreated  me  to  give  my 
heart  to  the  Saviour,  I  wonder  how  I 
could  resist  so  long,  and  how  much  I 
regret  that  I  did  not  at  that  season 
consecrate  my  all  to  the  service  of 
God." 

During  the  same  gracious  visitation 
of  the  Divine  Spirit,  the  heart  of  this 
faithful  teacher  was  made  glad  by  hear- 
ing that   one,  and  another,   and  another, 


118         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

who  had  once  been  liis  scholars,  had 
united  themselves  to  the  people  of  God. 
It  is  believed  that  he  never  forgot  one 
of  those  who  had  ever  been  connected 
with  his  class  in  the  Sabbath  school ; 
but  as  they  passed  out  from  under  his 
instructions,  he  kept  up  his  knowledge 
of  them,  as  far  as  he  was  able,  followed 
them  with  his  prayers,  and  with  his 
sympathy  in  their  adversity  or  their 
prosperity.  He  seemed  to  grasp,  as  it 
were,  every  soul  who  had  ever  been 
under  his  influence,  and  one  who  well 
knew,  speaks  of  his  constant  remem- 
brance in  his  devotions,  of  all  his  pupils, 
not  only  those  at  the  time  associated 
with  him,  but  all,  all  who  had  ever 
listened   to   his   voice. 

He  was  a  very  successful  teacher. 
His  name,  we  trust,  is  written  among 
tliose    who   have  been  honored   as  instru- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         119 

ments  of  ^'  turning  many  to  righteous- 
ness." Some  who  were  benefited  by 
his  instructions  had  passed  away  to  the 
higher  home  before  him.  Others  are 
traveling  in  the  upward  path,  who,  it 
is  believed,  will  yet  be  '^  stars  in  his 
crown  of  rejoicing."  Two  of  his  schol- 
ars became  preachers ;  one  is  now  a 
missionary  on  heathen  ground,  and 
others  are  filling  offices  of  trust  and 
usefulness,  both  in  his  native  town  and 
elsewhere.  Said  one  who  was  not  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  him,  but  who 
knew  the  good  influence  he  had  exerted 
in  the  Sabbath  school,  "  I  think  he  was 
the  best  Christian  man  I  ever  heard 
of." 

It  is  very  pleasant  now,  even  while 
he  is  sleeping  in  his  grave,  to  hear  the 
many  testimonies  given  of  his  faithful- 
ness and  affection  as  a  religious  teacher. 


120         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

May  those  who  remember  it  as  a  privi- 
lege to  have  listened  to  him,  deem  it 
one  to  imitate  him  in  his  fidelity  to  the 
Sabbath  school.  Were  it  possible  to 
collect  all  the  names  of  those  who  had 
ever  been  placed  under  his  care,  from 
the  time  he  first  engaged  in  this  service, 
until  he  laid  it  down  to  die,  and  if 
against  those  names  could  be  recorded 
all  the  faithful  admonitions,  the  earnest 
exhortations,  the  kind  and  affectionate 
entreaties  which  had  flowed  out  from  a 
heart  longing  for  their  salvation — and 
the  result,  either  as  lost  or  improved, 
could  be  given  in  legible  characters — 
how  full  of  interest  would  be  the 
record ! 

Such  a  record  has  been  kept,  and  in 
the  great  day  of  accounts,  it  will  be 
opened  and  read  before  the  assembled 
universe. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         121 


CHAPTER     VII. 

ONE       OF       HIS        SABBATH       SCHOOL 
SCHOLARS       HIS        PASTOR. 

When  Mr.  Morse  was  a  teacher  in  the 
Beck  street  Sabbatli  school,  he  was  ac- 
costed one  Sabbath  morning  by  a  lady, 
who  was  leading  by  the  liand  a  deli- 
cate little  boy,  about  eight  years  of  age, 
whom  she  requested  him  to  receive  into 
his  class.  He  consented,  and  taking  the 
hand  of  his  new  scholar,  he  passed  on. 
Finding  that  the  lad  was  timid  and 
fearful  of  the  new  and  untried  duties 
before  him,  he  endeavored,  with  his 
usual    kindness  of   manner,  to  banish  his 


122         CHEISTIAN     MECHANIC, 

fears,  and  win  his  confidence,  and  he 
succeeded.  Before  the  exercises  of  the 
school  had  closed,  the  boy,  with  the 
quick  instinct  of  childhood,  felt  that  he 
had  found  a  new  friend,  and  from  that 
hour,  he  gave  his  teacher  his  warmest 
confidence  and   affection. 

There  was  much  to  attract  the  two 
to  each  other,  and  sympathy  of  charac- 
ter overleaped  the  difference  in  age,  and 
commenced  a  friendship  never  to  end. 
They  were  both  gentle,  delicate  in  their 
feelings,  and  strong  in  their  attachments ^ 
and  they  felt  an  affection  for  each  other 
which  time  only  strengthened.  When, 
at  the  age  of  ten  years,  the  pupil 
became  personally  interested  in  spiritual 
subjects,  next  to  his  parents,  it  was  to 
his  beloved  teacher  that  he  freely  spoke 
of  his  new-found  joys,  his  hopes,  and 
fears.      When    twelve    years     old,    John 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         123 

Emerson  felt  it  his  duty  to  profess  his 
faith  in  Christ,  and  it  was  his  teacher 
who  went  with  him  to  converse  with 
his  pastor ;  and  in  every  important  event 
of  his  future  life,  the  same  friend  was 
his    adviser  and  his    counselor. 

No  parent  could  have  watched  with 
more  solicitude  his  whole  course,  than 
did  Mr.  Morse  study  the  unfolding  of 
his  mind,  the  shaping  of  his  purposes, 
and  the  formation  of  his  character.  He 
took  the  greatest  interest  in  his  pleas- 
ures, his  studies,  his  plans,  and  was 
always  ready  to  give  him  that  cordial 
sympathy  which  the  young  so  much 
crave,  and  which  is  not  only  a  delight 
to  them,  but  a  great  blessing  when  it 
comes  from  a  warm-hearted  and  judi- 
cious friend.  Many  a  young  person  has 
been  preserved  from  temptation,  and  for- 
tified   in     virtue    bv     the    confidence    lie 


124         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

received  from,  and  felt  in,  an  older 
friend.  During  his  collegiate  and  theo- 
logical course,  a  familiar  and  constant 
correspondence  was  maintained  between 
Mr.  Morse  and  his  former  pupil,  who, 
when  at  home  during  the  vacations,  was 
always  welcomed  with  heartfelt  affection 
by  him  and   his   family. 

Perhaps  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  say, 
that  in  the  story  of  "  Millwood,"  the 
touching  friendship  between  this  devoted 
young  Cliristian  and  his  Sabbath  school 
teacher,  has  been  so  truthfully  portrayed 
by  a  sister  of  the  former,  that  Mr, 
Morse  has  been  repeatedly  recognized  as 
the  original  of  "■  Mr.  Mills,"  even  through 
the   thin   guise  of  fiction  thrown  over  it. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  so  few  of 
Mr.  Morse's  letters  to  Mr.  Emerson  can 
be  found,  as  they  express,  better  than 
can    any    description,    the     deep    interest 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         125 

he  took  in  his  welfare.  We  give  those 
which  remain,  without  any  opportunity 
for   selection  : 


''  MR.    JOHN   E.    EMERSON,  AMHERST. 


''  My  Dear  Friend  : — 

"  I  was  gratified  to  receive  a  let- 
ter from  you,  after  your  arrival  at 
Amherst ;  or,  I  should  say  ice^  for,  as 
you  may  suppose,  we  are  all  interested 
in  your  welfare,  and  are  truly  glad  to 
hear  from  you.  I  had  rather  receive 
two  letters  from  you  than  write  one, 
for  though  my  affectionate  regard  for 
you  should  make  it  a  pleasant  privilege 
to  communicate  freely  my  thoughts  and 
feelings,  yet  I  must  say  it  is  one  of  the 
most  difficult  things  in  the  world  for 
me  to  write  a  letter.     But  I  am  indebted 

to   you  for    writing  to    me,   and    I   will 
11* 


1 26         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

act  on  the  principle  of  honesty,  and  '  owe 
you   not   any  thing   but  love.' 

"  But,  dear  John,  how  are  you  ?  Not 
liome-sick,  or  weather-sick,  I  trust,  for 
soon  after  your  arrival  at  Amherst,  your 
letters  manifested  strong  symptoms  of 
both.  Probably  one  occasioned  the  other  ; 
but  time  and  change,  I  hope,  have  healed 
them.  I  had  some  anxiety  in  regard  to 
the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  your 
situation  at  Monson ;  your  youth  and 
inexperience,  your  being  a  stranger  there, 
and  the  possibility  of  your  having  some 
pupils  much  older  than  yourself,  and 
knowing,  too,  that  you  did  not  possess 
a  superabundance  of  confidence  and  self- 
esteem,  led  me  to  fear  that  you  would 
have  many  difficulties  to  overcome,  before 
you  could  make  yourself  contented.  I 
was  truly  glad  to  learn  that  you  were 
getting    along    so    well    with   your    own 


CHRISTIAN      MECHANIC.  127 

studies,  and  with  your  little  urchins.  I 
was  glad,  also,  to  learn  that  while  there 
were  some  evils  and  inconveniences  exist- 
ing in  your  patli,  (and  when,  indeed, 
will  there  not  be  ?)  you  were  girding 
yourself  for  your  work,  by  remembering 
tliat  you  are  in  the  path  of  duty,  and 
can  therefore  seek  the  blessing  of  your 
heavenly  Father,  whose  promise  to  give 
strength,  grace,  and  wisdom  in  every 
time   of  need,    remaineth    sure. 

•'  I  wish  I  could  write  you  something 
new  and  cheering,  in  re2:ard  to  the  state 
of  religion  among  us.  You  have  doubt- 
less heard  how  earnest  and  enijaged 
Rev.  Mr.  Stearns  is  in  his  labors.  He 
has  strongly  expressed  his  desires  for  a 
revival  of  pure  religion  among  us.  He 
has  visited  and  preached  in  a  number 
of  towns  adjacent,  where  God  is  pour- 
ing out   his  Spirit,  and  he   has  evidently 


128         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

caught  much  of  the  sacred  flame  him- 
self. Our  meetings  are  well  attended, 
in  the  old  brick  chapel,  (where  some- 
times, no  doubt,  you  imagine  yourself 
to  be,)  and  at  times,  Mr.  Stearns  appoints 
a  meeting  for  inquiry.  There  have  been 
as  many  as  sixteen  who  attend  as 
inquirers,  but,  alas,  many  of  them  appear 
to  be  willing  so  to  remain.  'They  know 
their   duty,   but   they    do   it  not.' 

"  I  do  really  hope  that  we  may  soon 
witness  a  revival  of  that  religion  which 
is  pvre  and  peaceable^  for  there  is  much 
among  us,  at  the  present  time,  which 
assumes  the  name  of  Christianity,  while 
it  is  wholly  destitute  of  its  power.  It 
exerts  no  healthy  influence  on  the  every- 
day  life    of  its   possessor. 

"  Truly  yours, 

"  Charles  Morse." 


CHRISTIAN      M  K  C  H  A  N  I  C  .         129 


''  Dear  Friend  : — 

"  I  have  a  leisure  hour,  and  will 
attempt  to  improve  tlie  opportunity  it 
affords  to  communicate  to  you  a  few 
thoughts,  and  an  expression  of  my  undi- 
minished  affection   and   esteem. 

''•  If  we  may  estimate  the  value  of  a 
thing,  not  according  to  its  intrinsic  worth, 
but  by  what  it  costs,  why  tlien,  be  so 
kind  as  to  remember,  dear  friend  John, 
that  what  I  offer  you  in  the  way  of  let- 
ter-writing costs  me  something.  Xo  doubt 
the  great  difficulty  is,  I  write  so  sel- 
dom, and  while  penning  this  line,  tlie 
reflection  strikes  me  suddenly  that  the 
reason  why  we  so  often  find  but  little 
freedom  at  the  mercy-seat  is  because 
we  do  not  habituate  ourselves  to  constant 
communion  with  God.  There  is  not  a 
continued    out-going    of    our     hearts     to 


130         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

Him  who  has  sent  us  the  epistles  of 
His  love,  and  who  is  ever  giving  us  new 
expressions   of    His  kindness    and  mercy. 

"Oh,  John,  how  ungrateful  we  are 
to  our  best  friend,  that  we  should  ever 
allow  any  object  to  intervene  between 
Him  and  our  souls  I  Yet,  alas,  so  it 
is,  and  when  by  His  grace  we  return, 
and  with  melting  hearts  seek  to  renew 
the  delightful  intercourse,  how  kind,  how 
ready  to  forgive,  do  we  ever  find  Him, 
and  how  willing  yet  once  more,  to  man- 
ifest himself  to  us,  unworthy  as  we  are. 
I  have  said  we,  but  perhaps  I  had  bet- 
ter ask,  dear  brother,  is  it  ever  so  with 
you  ?  I  feel  that  you  need  to  exercise 
much  care  and  watchfulness  to  keep  the 
heart  in  a  spiritual  frame  of  mind 
amid  your  complicated  studies,  lest  it 
wander   from    God. 

"  The   state   of   religion   among  us,   at 


CHRISTIAN     X  E  C  H  A  N  I  C  .         131 

the  present  time,  is  not  a  subject  of 
pleasing  interest  for  me  to  write  upon, 
but  rather  a  mournful  one.  I  was  going 
to  say,  that  since  you  left  us  all  remains 
as  it  was,  but  in  the  nature  of  things, 
we  know  that  it  cannot  be  so,  for  the 
course  of  the  church,  or  of  indiTidual 
Christians,  must  be  either  onward  or 
retrograde.  That  the  latter  is  the  alarm- 
ing and  humiliating  truth,  facts  warrant 
me  in  saying.  I  believe  there  has  not 
been  one  addition  to  either  of  our  four 
united  churches  since  you  were  here. 
The  ways  of  Zion  mourn  because  few 
or  none  '  come  up  to  her  solemn  feasts.' 
''To  this  lamentation,  dear  John,  let 
us  add  with  all  our  heart  and  soul, 
the  prayer,  '  0  Lord,  revive  Thy  work.' 
"  Yours, 

"  Charles  Morse." 


132         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 


"  Dear  John  : — 

"  111  writing  to  yovi  I  have  gen- 
erally prefaced  the  letters,  and  Mrs. 
Morse  has  filled  the  pages ;  but  some- 
thing I  must,  and  ought,  to  write  you 
now,  in  return  for  your  last  interesting, 
and  very  welcome,  letter.  Indeed,  your 
letters  are  all  interesting,  but  that  one 
more  particularly  so,  on  account  of  that 
same  preaching  excursion  of  which  you 
wrote. 

"  And  you  have  preached !  I  have 
always  looked  forward  to  such  an  event 
with  the  deepest  interest,  and  shall  con- 
tinue to  do  so,  and  when  you  shall 
have  finished  your  preparatory  studies, 
and  are  called  and  sent,  not  only  like 
John  the  preacher,  to  preach  repentance, 
but   a  whole  gospel,  which  will  be  either 


CHKISTIAN     MECHANIC.         133 

'  a  savor  of  life  or  everlasting  death,' 
anxiety  will  be  added  to  that  interest. 
"  I  was  about  to  speak  of  the  fear- 
ful responsibility  of  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  of  his  desponding  views  of  his 
own  insufficiency,  of  trials  in  great 
variety,  of  times  when,  not  only  all  men 
do  not  come  to  him,  but  when  few 
even  of  his  own  parish  are  careful  to 
attend  on  his  preaching,  and  lightly 
esteem  those  sermons,  which,  in  prepa- 
ration, have  cost  him  many  hours  of 
anxious  study,  of  throbbing  temples, 
(more  painful,  even,  than  mine  at  this 
moment,)  and  a  sinking  heart.  But 
enough  of  this.  You,  doubtless,  have 
gone  over  the  same  ground  in  your  own 
imagination,  and  liave  been  led  to  exclaim, 
'  Who  is  sufficient  for  tliese  things  ? ' 
Paul,  who  said  this,  also  added,  'I  can 
do   all   things   through    Christ.'      So  you 

12 


134         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

must  say.  It  is  His  work.  He  calls 
you  to  it,  and  Avliile  you  patiently  and 
faithfully  perform  your  duty,  you  must 
be  willing  to  leave  the  events  with  the 
Lord. 

"  Dear  John,  Avhen  I  commenced  writ- 
ing, I  did  not  mean  to  give  you  a 
sermon,  but  I  fear  you  will  so  consider 
it ;  let  us  now  turn  the  leaf,  and  view 
the  other  page.  What  is  here  ?  A  settled 
pastor,  honored  and  beloved  for  his 
'  work's  sake,'  by  a  kind  and  attentive 
people ;  a  church  increasing  in  num- 
bers and  graces,  fed  with  the  Bread  of 
Life  broken  to  them  by  your  hands ; 
mourners  comforted  and  the  weak  estab- 
lished ;  a  Sabbath  school ;  a  full  and 
attentive  audience,  listening  to  the 
messages  of  the  gospel  with  deep, 
but  silent,  emotions ;  sinners  awakened  ; 
an    inquiry    meeting — tears    of    penitence 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  135 

— souls  saved — Christ  honored — God  glo- 
rified, and  crowns  of  rejoicing  through- 
out eternity.  This,  blessed  be  God,  is 
no  fiction,  and  it  is  on  this  side  of  the 
page  that  I  would  have  you  dwell. 
"  Ever  yours, 

"  Charles  Morse." 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter 
addressed  by  Mr.  Emerson  to  Mr.  Morse, 
on  hearing  of  his  recent  illness,  shows 
with  what  affection  and  gratitude  he 
reciprocated  the  warm  interest  of  his 
Sabbath    school   teacher : — 

*'  Oh,  how  gladly  would  I  have  flown 
to  your  bed-side  to  minister  to  your 
wants,  and,  if  possible,  to  soothe  your 
pains ;  but  that  privilege  was  denied 
me,  and  I  could  only  bear  you  on  my 
heart  in  supplication  at  the  throne  of 
grace.     God  has  been  better   to  me  than 


136         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

my  fears,  and  has  raised  you  up,  I 
trust,  to  be  an  instrument  of  great  and 
extensive  usefulness  in  the  world.  To 
me  you  have  been,  as  it  were,  a  spiritual 
father.  Your  kind  admonitions,  counsels, 
warnings,  and  anxiety  for  my  welfare, 
can  never  be  effaced  from  my  memory. 
Your  unwearied  efforts  for  my  good, 
your  desires  for  my  growth  in  grace, 
your  tender  and  watchful  solicitude  lest 
I  should  go  astray,  your  affectionate  fare- 
well tlie  night  before  I  left  for  college, 
cannot  soon  be  forgotten,  and  will  en- 
dear you  to  me  by  a  thousand  ties." 

Mr.  Emerson  was  licensed  to  preach 
tlie  gospel,  April  26,  1849,  and  his  first 
sermon  was  preaclied  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Ncwburyport,  where, 
twenty-four  years  previous,  he  had  been 
baptized,  and  where,  twelve  years  before, 
he  had   confirmed   that   rite  of  consecra- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         137 

tion,  by  a  Christian  profession.  Kev. 
Mr.  Stearns  said,  on  meeting  Mr.  Morse, 
soon  after  this  occasion,  "  Well,  brother 
Morse,  I  suppose  you  feel  now  as  if  you 
had  a  son  in  tlie   ministry." 

In  1849,  a  small  society,  called  the 
Whitefield  church,  assembled  at  Market 
Hall  for  worship.  Eev.  Mr.  Emerson, 
after  preaching  to  them  with  great  ac- 
ceptance, was  invited  to  become  their 
pastor.  The  decision  called  for  much 
deliberation,  as  his  delicate  health  seem- 
ed hardly  equal  to  tlie  formation  of  a 
new  enterprise,  which-  yet  had  entwined 
itself  very  much  in  his  affections,  and 
which  had  a  great  attraction  in  offering 
him  a  home  in  his  native  town,  and 
among  the  cherished  associations  of  his 
childhood.  He  consulted  Mr.  Morse, 
whose  opinion  was  adverse  to  his  ac- 
ceptance   of    this     invitation.     He    knew 

12* 


155         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

that  his  young  friend  was  winning  and 
attractive,  and  admirably  fitted  to  be 
the  centre  of  such  an  enterprise ;  but, 
considering  his  slender  healtli  and  deli- 
cate sensibilities,  he  would  have  desired 
for  him  a  more  quiet  and  less  arduous 
and  responsible  field  of  labor. 

But  when,  after  frequent  conversa- 
tions, in  which  his  objections  were  freely 
stated,  he  found  that  Mr.  Emerson,  with 
different  convictions  of  duty,  had  decided 
to  go  forward,  lie  remarked,  "  Well,  if 
this  work  be  of  man,  it  will  come  to 
naught,  but  I  will  no  longer  oppose  it, 
lest  I  be  found  to  fight  against    God." 

Mr.  Morse  did  not,  however,  identify 
himself  with  the  new  parish  movement. 
As  a  friend,  he  was  consulted  in  every 
important  step ;  and,  at  the  request 
of  several  young  men,  who  had  formerly 
been   his   pupils,   he   took  a  class   in   the 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         139 

Sabbath  school,  which  was  held  at  differ- 
ent hours  from  his  own,  so  that  the 
duties  of  the  two  did  not  conflict  with 
each  other. 

Mr.  Morse  was  not  impulsive  ;  caution 
was  a  natural  and  a  cultivated  trait  of 
his  character,  and  he  wcip;hed  every  step 
of  his  life  with  mental  exactness  and 
scrupulous  conscientiousness.  He  was 
the  last  man  to  change  his  religious 
home  easily,  or  to  ,  suffer  some  mere 
personal  preference,  or  slight  convenience, 
to  determine  his  church  connection.  Such 
paltry  trifling  with  that  which  should  be 
permanent,  such  loose  attachments  to 
that  which  should  have  a  sacred  place 
in  the  heart  is,  in  many  instances,  the 
bane  of  our  churches,  and  a  great  hin- 
derance  to  steadfast,  elevated,  and  pro- 
gressive piety.  Whenever  tlie  possibility 
of    connecting   himself    with    "  the    new 


110         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

enterprise,"  as  it  was  often  called,  was 
presented  to  the  mind  of  Mr..  Morse,  it 
caused  many  conflicting  emotions.  On 
one  side,  was  an  almost  paternal  affec- 
tion for  this  young  friend,  and  on  the 
other  was  a  strong  attachment  to  his 
pastor  and  the  church  with  which  he 
had,  for  so  long  a  period,  been  connected 
by  the  most  endearing  ties  of  Christian 
fellowship. 

It  was  in  the  .spring  of  1850,  after 
much  prayer  and  deliberation,  that  he 
came  to  a  final  decision  to  cast  in  his 
lot  with  that  infant  church.  The  most 
powerful  motive  which  led  him  to  take 
this  step  was  that  he  could  be  more 
useful  there.  The  church  with  which  he 
had  been  so  long  associated  was  a  large 
and  efficient  one,  and  could  afford  to 
spare  some  of  its  members  without  dis- 
advantage.    To   the  infant   church  everv 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         1  il 

additional  help  was  important.  The  fol- 
lowing extract,  from  a  letter  written  at 
the  time,  expresses  his  view  of  it : 

"I  hope,  my  dear  mother,  that  yoii 
will  not  be  surprised  when  you  hear  that 
I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  unite  my- 
self with  the  Wliitefield  church,  or  think 
that  I  have  acted  rashly.  I  have  given 
the  subject  mature  deliberation,  and  have 
asked  direction  from  God.  I  think  I 
may  be  made  more  useful  in  this  infant 
church,  the  number  of  male  members 
being  very  small.  You,  I  trust,  will 
remember  me  at  a  throne  of  grace,  al- 
ways, that  I  may  be  guided,  and  quick- 
ened in  Christian  duty,  and  do  some- 
thing, however  small  it  may  be,  and 
though  it  may  be  in  some  obscure  corner 
of  Christ's  vineyard,  although  for  this 
even,  I   am  unworthy." 

This  decision  was  an  event  which  filled 


142         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

the  heart  of  the  youthful  pastor  with 
joy.  His  mother  said  to  Mr.  Morse,  the 
evening  after  he  had  made  known  his 
determination,  ''  This,  I  believe,  has  been 
one  of  the  happiest  days  of  John's  life." 
The  Sabbath  that  Mr.  Morse  was  re- 
ceived by  letter  into  his  church  was  re- 
corded in  the  pastor's  journal  as  "  a 
most  solemn  and  interesting  day."  From 
that  time,  lie  gave  the  church  of  his 
adoption  his  warm  affection  and  most 
untiring  efforts.  He  was  always  present 
at  the  meetings  for  business  or  prayer, 
and  never  excused  himself  from  any 
duty,  however  arduous,  by  which  its 
welfare  could  be  promoted ;  and  it  is 
believed  that,  in  proportion  to  his  means, 
no  one  did  more  in  a  pecuniary  point  of 
view.  A  few  days  before  his  death  he 
was  asked  if  he  ever  regretted  the  step 
he   had   taken,  or   the    sacrifices   he   had 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         143 

made  for  the  church,  and  he  replied 
with  much  emphasis,  "  No,  never !  I 
have  ever  loved  that  church,  I  shall 
love  it  Tvhile  life  lasts,  and  I  shall  love 
it   in  heaven." 

But  soon  an  unexpected  trial  was  laid  ^ 
upon  him.  He  had  hardly  taken  his 
stand  as  helper  at  tlie  side  of  his  former 
scholar,  now  his  beloved  pastor,  when  it 
became  too  visible  to  every  beholder  that 
the  disease  which  had  threatened  the 
youthful  preacher  on  his  very  entrance 
into  the  ministry,  was  making  rapid 
strides.  Soon  it  was  evident  that  the 
seal  of  death  was  upon  him,  and  his 
winning  voice  could  no  longer  be  heard. 
God  had  called  him,  and  the  yoTithful 
herald  was  fast  hastening  to  his  eternal 
home.  Mr.  Morse  once  said  to  a  friend, 
when  speaking  of  Mr.  Emerson's  death, 
'•  It   would   be   impossible   for   me  to   de- 


144         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

scribe  the  sensations  I  felt  when  I  first 
became  convinced  that  he  could  not  live. 
I  could  not  dwell  upon  the  thought  for 
a  moment,  it  was  too  keen  agony  for 
me  to  bear."  In  a  letter  to  his  sister, 
he  wrote,  "  Oh,  Catharine,  my  minister, 
my  dear  friend  and  pastor,  Mr^  Emerson, 
is  fast  sinking  into  the  grave.  He  is 
even  now  at  the  very  gate.  Oh,  with 
what  anguish  have  I  watched  each  step 
of  this  fatal  disease  as  it  advanced ;  and 
now  we  have  no  hope — none.  He  may 
live  a  few  days  longer,  but  he  must 
die.  It  seems  that  prayers  and  tears 
can  avail  nothing  in  his  case,  though 
his  people  weep  and  pray  without  ceasing. 
He  will  be  a  public  loss,  for  I  feel  that 
we  shall  hardly  find  another  like  him. 
I  am  confident  that  I  never  shall.  But 
he  is  ready,  waithig,  quite  on  '  the  verge 
of    heaven.'      God   and    his   Saviour   are 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         145 

with  liim,  and  I  feci  it  a  blessed  privi- 
lege to  stand,  as  I  often  do,  at  the  side 
of  his  dying  bed,  listening  to  that  sweet 
voice,  now  almost  lost  in  death,  wliile 
he  speaks  of  a  Saviour's  love  and  faith- 
fulness, and  urges  the  impenitent  to 
seek   Him. 

"  And  must  he  go  ?  0  Lord,  help 
me  to  bow  submissively,  and  adore  thy 
deep  designs,  for  I  know  that  they  are 
just  and  right.  Pray  for  us,  dear  sister, 
that  God  may  still  bless  this  infant 
church,  and  that  this  dark  providence 
may   be    sanctified   to   us." 

Every  moment  he  had  to  spare  was 
passed  at  that  sick  bed,  watching  every 
favorable  symptom,  and  exerting  every 
energy  in  attempts  to  comfort  and  cheer 
him;  and  when  the  final  hour  drew 
near,  and  he  had  followed  him  to  the 
very  brink  of  Jordan,    and   the  youtliful 

18 


146         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

pastor  was  receding  from  his  sight,  oh, 
there  was  an  agony  in  that  faithful 
teacher's  heart  it  had  never  known  be- 
fore. From  his  first  knowledge  of  him 
as  a  child,  through  the  forming  years  of 
youth,  into  the  early  manhood  in  which 
he  passed  away,  the  intimacy  and.  aifec- 
tion  between  them  constantly  increased  ; 
and  when  Mr.  Morse  witnessed  the  last 
sigh  which  set  the  spirit  free,  it  is  no 
wonder  he  exclaimed,  ''  Half  my  life 
seems    to  have    gone   from   me." 

At  the  funeral  of  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson, 
Rev.  Mr.  Stearns  touchingly  alluded  to 
Mr.  Morse,  in  his  sermon.  "  Among  the 
members  of  that  church,  I  see  one  here 
whose  emotions  are  peculiarly  deep  on 
this  tender  occasion.  It  is  he  whom  our 
deceased  brother  ever  used  to  call  '  My 
Sabbath  school  teacher,'  who  for  many 
long  years   watched   and  prayed  with  all 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         147 

a  father's  fondness  over  his  childhood ; 
and  then,  changing  places  with  his  du- 
tiful pupil,  sat  in  turn  at  his  feet  for 
instruction,  and  received  from  his  hands 
the  tokens  of  the  Saviour's  sacrifice. 
Ah,  faithful  one,  God  has  given  thee 
thy  prayer.  Through  His  grace,  thou 
hast  at  length  got  him  safe  in  among 
the  churcli  of  the  first  born."  It  is  said 
that,  at  this  allusion,  the  Christian  for- 
titude of  Mr.  Morse  almost  forsook  him, 
and  an  audible  groan  testified  to  his 
agony   of  spirit. 

And  now,  these  two  have  met  again  ; 
the  teacher  and  his  pupil,  the  pastor  and 
his  friend.  They  now  fully  understand 
the  reasons  which  required  the  youthful 
preacher  to  be  so  soon  withdrawn  from  his 
chosen  field  of  labor.  They  see  clearly 
how  beautiful  are  all  the  designs  of  In- 
finite  wisdom.     There  is   no  obscurity  in 


* 


r 

148         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

their  vision,  no  lingering  doubt  respect- 
ing the  welfare  of  Zion,  no  fear  that 
among  the  dark  things  of  earth  the  Ark 
of  God  will  not  be  safe,  or  outride  the 
storm,  resting,  as  she  does,  on  the  rock 
of  ages. 

If  their  mission  on  earth  was  so 
beautiful,  shedding  around  their  path 
continually  the  fragrance  of  piety  and 
holy  love,  what  must  be  their  ministra- 
tions in  heaven  !  It  is  very  pleasant  to 
think  of  them  as  united  again,  having 
laid  aside  their  robes  of  mortality,  and 
being  "  clothed  upon"  with  celestial  gar- 
ments. May  they  not  be  ministering 
spirits  to  some  now  on  earth,  whose 
names  are  written  in  the  Book  of  Life 
as  "  heirs  of  salvation  ?"  Was  their 
work  all  accomplished  when  they  passed 
away  from  our  sight  ?  May  there  not 
be  some    one  for   whom  they  prayed  and 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         149 

affectionately  labored,  apparently  in  vain, 
whose  prodigal  return  to  the  Father's 
house  they  are  now  watching  with  in- 
tense  interest. 

13* 


150         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 


CHAPTER       VIII. 

RIR.       MORSE      AS       A      PARISHIONER. 

As  SO  many  people  sustain  the  relation 
of  parishioner  somewhere,  it  is  important 
that  it  should  be  clearly  understood  and 
well  filled.  It  is  too  often  supposed  to 
imply  only  a  pecuniary  contribution  to 
preaching,  and  a  fitful  attendance  on 
that  preaching ;  or,  perhaps  in  addition, 
some  private  criticism  of  the  public 
exercises  of  the  church,  and  an  assertion 
of  wliat  may  happen  to  be  liked  or  dis- 
liked in  them.  It  is  possible  that  we 
may  gain,  from  looking  at  the  simple  life 


CHRISTIAN     xM  E  C  H  A  N  I  C  .  151 

before  us,  an  intimation  of  some  farther 
duties   in   that   relation. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  inter- 
ested in  every  thing  that  aflected  the 
prosperity  of  the  parish.  He  was  a 
laboring  man,  working  daily  at  his 
trade,  which  yielded  him  but  small 
means ;  but  he  bore  a  generous  share 
in  any  expenses  that  arose,  and  always 
-encouraged  any  improvements.  Xo  one 
knew  him  to  give  grudgingly,  or  sus- 
pected him  of  any  backwardness  in  pecu- 
niary aid  ;  he  rather  rated  his  own  pro- 
portion as  larger  than  did  others,  who 
knew  his  circumstances.  He  attended 
business  meetings,  and  gave  that  time 
and  attention,  which  is  as  essential  as 
money,  to-  tlie  external  prosperity  of  a 
religious  society.  ^ 

He  w.as  alvvays  at  church  on  tho 
Sahb^^Jj,.  a^id  in  the  conference   room  at 


152         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

all  the  appointed  services.  When  these 
occurred  on  the  evenings  of  the  week, 
they  must  often  have  found  him  wearied, 
if,  indeed,  labor  did  not  crowd  down 
upon  the  actual  time ;  but  his  work 
was  dismissed,  and  he  went  to  religious 
exercises  as  to  refreshment.  It  became 
a  matter  of  certainty,  if  he  was  absent, 
that  he  was  either  sick,  or  out  of  town. 
He  was  there  not  only  in  body,  but  in 
attention,  giving  a  receptive  hearing  to 
all  that  was  uttered,  and  ready  to  bear 
his  own  part,  when  a  word  of  exhortation 
was  expected  from  the  laymen. 

He  endeavored  to  become  acquainted 
with  those  who  were  associated  with 
him  in  the  parish.  Though  a  man  of 
very  quiet  habits,  who  naturally  preferred 
friendship  with  a  chosen  few,  rather  than 
general,  promiscuous  acquaintance,  he 
studiously    cultivated    a    knowledge    of. 


OHRISTIAN      MECHANIC.         15S 

and  kindly  intercourse  with,  those  aroimd 
hini.  There  was  an  evening  gathering 
once  in  tvro  weeks  in  the  society,  for 
the  purpose  of  promoting  social  feeling 
among  the  members  of  it,  and  whenever 
it  was  possible,  he  made  it  a  point  to 
be  present,  although  with  his  habits  of 
reading,  his  taste  might  have  led  him 
to  prefer  spending  the  evening  at  home. 
To  his  minister,  he  was  an  attentive, 
reliable  friend.  Ke  did  not  show  his 
interest  by  compliments,  nor  by  exacting 
demands,  but  by  a  kind  appreciation  of 
services,  and  that  generous  interpreta- 
tion which  is  alike  remote  from  petty, 
suspicious  criticism,  on  the  one  hand, 
or  empty  praise  on  the  other.  He  did 
not  consume  the  time  of  their  interviews 
by  stereotyped  reproaches  about  the  in- 
frequency  of  visits.  We  knew  of  a 
clergyman   who  once   called  on    a  parish. 


154        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

ioner  who  was  accustomed  to  keep  up  a 
debt  aud  credit  account  of  this  kind, 
and  a  sudden  and  violent  snow-storm 
detained  him  at  the  house  until  the 
next  afternoon.  As  he  was  entering 
his  sleigh  to  return  home,  his  host  said, 
in   a   complaining   tone — • 

"  Well,  I  do  hope  the  next  time  you 
come  to  see  us,  you  will  stop  and  let 
us   see   something   of  you." 

The  clergyman  turned  around,  to  see 
if  his  parishioner  was  ironical ;  but  no, 
he  was  uttering,  in  sober  earnest,  his 
oft-repeated  remark  on  such  occasions. 

It  was  not  by  professions  to  that 
effect,  but  by  the  spirit  with  which  he 
entered  into  such  duties,  that  Mr.  Morse 
showed  a  readiness  for  any  service  that 
might  be  necessary  in  the  parish.  If 
any  arbitration  or  counsel  was  needed, 
in   any   difficult  matter,  his  brethren  felt 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         155 

that  all  confidence  could  be  placed  in 
bis  caution,  bis  kindness,  bis  patience, 
and  bis  desire  for  justice.  He  was 
peculiarly  a  safe  man  in  all  delicate  and 
perplexing  affairs,  and  altbough  they 
sometimes  weighed  more  on  bis  mind 
than  they  would  in  a  man  of  more 
buoyant  temperament,  be  never  shrank 
from   them. 

If  private  expostulation  or  public 
measures  were  really  expedient  for  the 
benefit  of  individuals,  or  the  safety  of 
the  church,  be  was  willing  to  encounter 
whatever  of  unpleasant  experience  might 
lie  in  the  way  ;  yet  such  is  the  force  of 
a  simple,  consistent  character  to  make 
itself  understood  even  among  dissimilar 
elements,  that  the  writer  does  not  re- 
member ever  to  have  heard  him  called 
officious. 

At  one  time,  a  Council  was  convened 


156         CHRISTIAN     BIECHANIC. 

to  adjust  same  difficulties  in  a  neigh- 
boring church,  where  personal  prejudice 
and  anger,  had  usurped  the  place  of 
"  brotherly  love,"  and  Mr.  Morse  was 
sent  by  his  church  as  delegate.  After- 
wards an  adjustment  was  effected,  and 
another  Council  called  to  settle  a  min- 
ister over  that  people.  "  Do  send  brother 
Morse  on  that  Council,"  said  one  of  his 
brethren,  "  be  has  grieved  so  much  over 
the  strifes  in  that  town,  that  he  ought 
to  have  the  satisfaction  of  going  there, 
now   there   is   peace." 

An  individual  came  into  town  with  a 
letter  of  introduction  from  a  brother 
minister  of  another  city — where  he  had 
previously  spent  some  months — addressed 
to  the  pastor  of  Mr.  Morse.  He  was 
a  stranger,  and  nothing  was  known  of 
his  former  history,  but  he  proved  to  be 
a  man    of    considerable    literary    attain- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         157 

ments,  and  possessed  of  a  very  analytical 
mind.  He  was  exceedingly  interesting 
in  conversation,  particularly  on  moral 
subjects,  for  which  he  seemed  to  have 
a  decided  inclination,  and  on  which  he 
displayed  much  discriminating  thought. 
As  his  acquaintance  with  him  advanced, 
the  clergyman  to  whom  he  had  been 
introduced,  felt  a  great  interest  in  him, 
and  especially  when  there  appeared  to 
be  added  to  his  other  traits  a  deep  relig- 
ious experience.  He  professed  to  be  a 
humble  Christian,  an«f  received  entire 
confidence    as    such. 

Soon  after  this,  he  had  a  slight  illness, 
and  took  some  medicine,  of  which  spirit 
was  an  ingredient.  To  the  surprise  of 
those  around  him,  it  roused  an  appetite 
for  intoxicating  drink,  which,  it  then 
appeared,  had  previously  controlled  and 
degraded  him,  and  had  only   been   lying 

14 


158         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

dormant  for  awhile.  He  was  missed 
from  his  boarding-house,  and  from  his 
place  of  employment,  and  was  found  by 
his  pastor  in  a  state  of  intoxication. 
Not  all  the  restraining  motives  which 
could  be  presented  to  him — not  his  rep- 
utation as  a  man  and  as  a  Christian,— 
sufficed  to  recover  him.  He  seemed  to 
be  in  the  clutches  of  a  demon  he  could 
not  resist.  His  pastor  would  not  give 
him  up,  yet  he  could  restrain  him  from 
intoxicating  liqviors,  only  while  he  kept 
him   in    sight. 

He  went  to  Mr.  Morse,  and  told  him 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  he, 
in  his  readiness  for  every  work  of  mercy, 
offered  to  take  charge  of  him,  until  the 
paroxysm  was  passed.  It  was  a  very 
busy  season,  but  he  laid  his  work  en- 
tirely aside.  It  was  a  very  difficult 
office,  for  the  man  was  beyond  the  appeal 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         159 

of  reason,  yet  he  must  not  feel  coercion, 
or  it  would  drive  him  to  fury.  He  had 
a  great  deal  of  pride  to  be  soothed,  yet 
if  he  was  not  firmly  dealt  with,  he 
would  rush  to  his  own  senseless  ruin. 
Wretchedly  degraded  was  he  then,  and 
it  was  a  very  revolting  spectacle  to  a 
man  of  sensibility  like  Mr.  Morse.  Nev- 
ertheless, like  the  good  Samaritan,  he 
strove  to  bind  up  the  wounds  of  sin, 
and  restore  him  to  himself  and  to 
virtue. 

How  kindly,  how  unweariedly  did  he 
devote  himself  to  the  task,  endeavoring 
to  calm  and  soothe  the  agitation  which 
the  sudden  withdrawal  of  a  powerful 
stimulant  produced,  and  to  procure  for 
him  such  remedies  as  might  allay  the 
morbid  irritability  of  the  nerves.  With 
all  the  tenderness  of  a  brother,  he 
watched   over   him,   following   him  in  his 


160         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

wanderings,  persuading  him  to  go  with 
him  to  different  spots  of  interest  in  town^ 
and  diverting  his  mind  by  the  recital 
of  pleasant  incidents  and  reminiscences 
of  his  own  youth,  and  gently  withdraw- 
ing him  from  the  poison  he  craved. 
Amid  discouragements  and  rebuffs,  this 
course  was  firmly  continued,  until,  at 
length,  reason  was  once  more  restored. 
Then  the  gratitude  of  the  poor  inebriate 
knew  no  bounds,  and  he  exclaimed, 
"  Oh,  brother  Morse,  you  and  my  pastor 
have   saved   me  !  " 

When  this  fallen  man  came  to  himself^ 
and  began  to  see  his  own  infatuation, 
and  its  terrible  effects,  his  distress  was 
most  painful  to  witness.  The  world  saw 
his  sin,  but  they  did  not  see  the  remorse 
and  anguish,  the  self-loathing  and  de- 
spair, which  followed.  But  Mr.  Morse 
soothed   him  in   his  mental  sufferings,  as 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         161 

he  had  in  his  paroxysms  of  mad  appetite. 
Xor  did  his  kindness  stop  here.  Findinp^ 
the  man  was  in  debt,  and  fearing  tliat 
his  pecuniary  embarrassment  might  har- 
ass him,  and  lead  him  to  drown  his 
distress  in  the  fatal  cup,  he  went  to 
friends,  and  solicited  the  necessary  funds 
for   his   relief. 

Thus  it  was  that  his  pastor,  his 
brethren,  and  all  who  were  associated 
with  him,  found  in  Mr.  Morse  a  reliable, 
faithful  friend,  shining  the  brighter  the 
more   he   was   tried. 

14* 


162        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC 


CHAPTER    IX. 

INTELLECT  CULTIVATED  FOR  GOD. 

Amid  all  the  varied  duties  in  which 
Mr.  Morse  was  so  constantly  engaged, 
joined  to  the  exposure  and  toil  attend- 
ant on  his  trade,  as  a  ship-carpenter, 
one  would  naturally  suppose  that  he 
could  pay  but  little  attention  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  his  mind.  It  would  be  in- 
ferred that  if  a  leisure  hour  ever  did 
present  itself,  the  wearied  man  would 
pass  it  in  relaxation  and  rest.  But  it 
was  with  him  a  matter  of  conscience, 
no  less  than  of  pleasure,  to  secure  time 
for  study. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         163 

The  value  of  a  soul  which  Christ  had 
died  to  redeem,  made  it  seem  a  duty 
to  improve  every  faculty  to  the  utmost, 
and  thus  offer  no  barren  or  sluggish 
nature  to  Him  who  had  paid  such  ran- 
som for  it.  He  cultivated  his  memory, 
his  reasoning  powers,  his  general  intel- 
ligence, by  every  means  within  his  reach. 
Notwithstanding  he  rose  early  and  con- 
tinued late  at  work,  and  often  returned 
home  with  a  wearied  and  aching  frame, 
he  managed  to  secure  two  hours  every 
day  for  reading.  We  have  seen  how 
punctual  he  was  in  his  attendance  on 
religious  services,  how  devoted  to  the 
calls  of  friendship,  and  of  charity,  yet, 
in  this  matter  of  study,  he  was  scrupu- 
lously  systematic. 

In  his  selection  of  books,  Mr.  Morse 
sought  such  as  were  calculated  to  strength- 
en  and   enlighten   his  mind,   and   render 


164         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

him  more  useful  in  the  station  where 
his  Master  had  placed  him.  For  light 
reading  and  miscellaneous  literature,  he 
had  no  time,  and  probably  no  taste,  but 
he  enjoyed  works  of  science  which  showed 
the  creative  power  and  wisdom  of  God, 
and  the  harmony  of  the  universe.  Such 
authors  as  Thomas  Dick,  and  Hugh  Mil- 
ler were  peculiar  favorites,  and  he  gave 
to  the  subjects  they  presented,  the  most 
attentive  thouglit.  Clear  reasoning  like 
Butler's  Analogy  was  very  attractive  to 
iiim,  and  link  by  link  he  made  the  argu- 
ment his  own.  Books  of  history  and 
biography  were  read,  and  re-read,  until 
he  had  domesticated  the  facts  they  con- 
veyed in  his  own  mind.  His  reflection 
and  systematic  arrangement  of  the  stores 
gained  in  reading,  enabled  him  to  find 
them  for  illustration  when  they  were 
needed. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         165 

With  his  humility  of  character,  (that 
lowliness  of  mind  which  esteems  others 
better  than  himself,  of  which  the  apostle 
speaks,)  he  made  no  display  of  his  infor- 
mation, but  those  who  heard  him  speak 
frequently,  knew  that  he  often  brought 
forth  beautiful  gems  from  his  mine.  He 
never  gave  his  books  a  cursory  perusal, 
but  tried  to  cull  from  each  something 
to  enrich  his  mind  and  increase  his  use- 
fulness as  he  came  in  contact  with  others. 
He  was  fond  of  good  poetry.  Milton's 
Paradise  Lost  was  a  favorite  work,  and 
Pollock's  Course  of  Time  was  so  famil- 
iar that  he  could  repeat  a  great  portion 
of  it.  He  generally  subscribed  for  five 
or  six  periodicals,  and,  of  course,  kept 
himself  well  acquainted  with  the  religious 
movements    of    the   day. 

The  remarkable  unselfishness  of  his 
character  is   strikingly   illustrated   by  his 

4m- 


166         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

habit  in  regard  to  those  two  hours  of 
daily  reading.  Mr.  Morse  was  not  a 
strong  man,  and  was  subject  to  dyspep- 
sia, and  it  was  painful  to  him  to  read 
aloud.  Beside  this,  he  had  a  peculiar 
aversion  to  it.  But  with  a  determina- 
tion in  this,  as  in  every  thing  else,  to 
forget  his  own  wishes  in  the  desire  to 
benefit  others,  he  made  it  his  almost 
constant  habit  to  read  aloud  to  his 
family  whatever  he  might  find  of  inter- 
est in  the  pages  before  him,  and,  as 
he  was  a  good  reader,  and  entered 
heartily  into  the  spirit  of  the  author, 
it  was  a  great  pleasure  to  listen  to  him. 
In  this  way,  while  receiving  he  was 
communicating  instruction,  and  while 
forgetting  himself,  he  was  adding  to  the 
happiness  of  others.  Nothing  seems  to 
speak  of  him  more  than  do  those  unopened 
books,   which  now  lie  upon  the    table   or 


CHRISTIAN      MECHANIC.  167 

on  the  shelf ;  they  almost  seem  with  a 
mournful  aspect  to  ask  for  their  friend 
who  once  appreciated  them  so  highly  ; 
but  he  no  longer  needs  their  aid,  he 
has    gone   to   the    fountain. 

While  Mr.  Morse  was  thus  interested 
in  the  results  of  learning  and  genius, 
he  sought,  with  peculiar  earnestness,  all 
those  aids  which  helped  to  unfold  or 
illustrate  the  rich  meaning  of  the  Script* 
ures.  He  generally  read  some  portion 
of  the  Bible  three  times  a  day,  besides 
reading  it  in  course  in  his  family,  with 
a  commentaiy.  How  different  is  this 
from  the  mechanical  perusal  of  a  few 
passages  of  the  Bible,  in  the  hurry  of 
the  morning,  or  just  as  the  drowsiness 
of  night  is  creeping  over  the  mind.  It 
has  been  beautifully  said,  "  The  careless 
reader,  in  lightly  skimming  the  surface, 
may    catch   the   sheen  of  here  and  there 


168         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

a  gem,  the  glimmer  of  gold  dust ;  but 
the  rarer  jewels  of  truth,  the  deep- 
chambered  veining  of  the  precious  ore, 
are  to  such  eyes  hidden  treasures.  The 
thoughts  of  God,  by  which  He  would 
make  us,  the  pupils  of  his  tuition,  wise 
unto  salvation,  are  not,  in  their  clear 
but  profound  depths,  so  easily  fathomed. 
Shutting  up  all  this  lore  of  spiritual 
things  in  one  volume,  our  divine  Teacher 
has  meant  us  to  search  and  master  that 
one  book  with  a  patience  and  thorough- 
ness of  acquisition  beyond  those  of  all 
other  scholarship."  With  Mr.  Morse  the 
Bible  was  law,  and  he  sought  to  know 
and  understand  it.  He  could  say,  "  Thy 
word  have  I  hid  in  my  heart,  that  I 
might  not  sin  against  thee,"  and  from 
his  heart  he  could  add,  "Oh,  how  love 
I  thy  law !  it  is  my  meditation  all  the 
day."     A  friend  of  his  earlier  years  once 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         169 

made  the  remark,  '^  You  must  always 
expect  that  Charles  Morse  will  live  about 
right,  for  he  is  governed  by  Bible  laws ; 
and  if  you  admit  that  the  Bible  is  true, 
you  will  also  admit  that  he  is  a  good 
man.  You  would  not  expect  that  such 
a   man   would  knowingly  do   wrong." 

If  every  one  who  wishes  to  be  a 
disciple  of  Christ,  would  be  thus  intent 
on  knowledge  and  mental  improvement, 
how  much  ignorant  misapprehension  of 
duty  might  be  prevented,  how  much 
strength  and  richness  added  to  the  work- 
ing power  of  the  church !  Many  a  man 
who  is  industrious  in  business,  and  fru- 
gal of  his  means,  considers  his  hours  of 
leisure  his  own,  to  be  squandered  on 
whatever  may  drift  along,  or  if  any 
portion  is  spent  on  books,  they  are  so 
many  and  so  heterogeneous  that  to  skim 
over    them   is    a    kind    of    mental    dissi- 

15 


170         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

pation  which  exhausts  instead  of  invig- 
orating his  powers.  The  faculty  of 
imagination  was  designed  for  cultivation, 
since  it  helps  us  the  more  readily  to 
understand  and  sympathize  with  what  is 
remote  from  us,  and  embellishes  and 
multiplies  the  pleasures  of  life,  but  its 
intemperate  indulgence  in  promiscuous 
fiction  is  not  only  waste,  but  ruin.  A 
few  books  well  chosen  and  well  read, 
was  the  secret  of  our  friend's  improve- 
ment ;  and  we  would  that  others  of 
larger  leisure  and  more  abundant  advan- 
tages, would  look  at  him,  with  his  hard 
manual  labor,  his  feeble  frame,  and 
many  calls  of  duty,  sacredly  setting 
apart  those  two  hours  of  study  every 
day,  as  belonging  to  God,  and  be  quick- 
ened to  greater  diligence  and  thorough- 
ness  of   mental    application. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         171 


CHAPTER     X. 

FAITHFUL      IN      FRIENDSHIP. 

It  is  eyident  from  the  strong  attachment 
felt  for  Mr.  Emerson,  that  Mr.  Morse 
was  capable  of  very  warm  friendship. 
His  refinement  of  taste,  delicacy  of  feel- 
ing, and  extreme  conscientiousness,  re- 
quired that  the  individual  whom  he  called 
friend  should  possess  corresponding  tastes 
and  principles.  He  was  kind  and  cour- 
teous to  all  who  were  associated  with 
him,  but  from  early  youth,  he  showed 
discrimination  in  the  choice  of  friends, 
and  tenacity  in  his  attachment  to  them. 
With   his    love  for   the    service  of    his 


172         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

Master,  it  was  natural  that  he  should 
be  peculiarly  attracted  towards  the  mes- 
sengers of  that  Master.  His  affection 
for  each  of  the  ministers  on  whose 
preaching  he  attended,  was  very  strong. 
He  held  them  in  the  highest  estimation, 
"  esteeming  them  highly  for  their  work's 
sake."  The  pastors  of  the  church  where 
he  made  his  profession  of  Christian 
hope,  were  always  peculiarly  dear  to 
him.  His  affection  for  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson 
is  well  known,  but  it  was  not  all  buried 
in  the  grave  of  his  youthful  pastor. 
There  was  an  empty  pulpit  to  be  again 
occupied,  and  a  bereaved  people  who 
were  early  left  "  as  sheep  without  a 
shepherd."  We  can  well  imagine  with 
what  emotions  Mr.  Morse  would  enter 
his  closet  at  that  time,  and  those  who 
knew  him  best,  can  seem  to  hear,  even 
now,   the   fervent  petitions   which    welled 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  173 

forth  from  his  full  heart,  as  he  prayed 
that  the  "  Jehovah  of  Hosts "  would 
guide  that  stricken  band  as  "  a  pillar  of 
cloud  by  day  and  of  fire  by  night." 
When  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  Mr. 
Spalding,  came  among  them,  he  regarded 
the  choice  as  an  answer  to  the  prayers 
of  the  church ;  and  was  ready  to  give 
him  a  cordial  welcome.  He  continued 
to  identify  himself  with  his  pastor,  ral- 
lying around  him  in  aid  or  advice, 
ever  prompt  to  second  all  his  plans  of 
benevolence,  and  heartily  rejoicing  in  his 
prosperity. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  men- 
tion, in  connection  with  his  faithfulness 
to  all  interests  of  his  friends,  his  devo- 
tion to  one  sacred  trust  left  him  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Emerson.  A  short  time  before 
he  died,  he  called  Mr.  Morse  to  his 
bedside,    and    requested    that    the    care 


174         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  tenderness  which  had  been  bestowed 
on  himself,  might  be  transferred  to  his 
beloved  mother,  who  was  soon  to  be 
left  sorrowing  behind.  The  pledge  was 
given,  and  most  sacredly  kept.  Shortly 
after  the  death  of  her  son,  she  was 
again  bereaved,  and  left  a  solitary  widow, 
and  then  he  was  unwearied  in  his  exer- 
tions to  supply  the  place  of  the  loved  ones 
she  had  lost.  He  did  not  from  that 
hour  "  take  her  to  his  own  home," 
but  he  was  a  son  to  her  in  her  lonely 
dwelling.  Not  a  day  passed  in  which 
he  did  not  visit  her  once  or  more, 
endeavoring  to  lighten  her  every  burden, 
shield  her  from  care,  and  perform  for 
her  many  of  tliose  household  services 
which,  in  a  family,  depend  on  the  hus- 
band or  son.  Mrs.  Emerson,  though 
a  sensible,  intelligent  woman,  a  social 
companion,     and     a     devoted     Christian, 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.  175 

was,  as  all  her  acquaintances  knew, 
a  person  of  a  highly  excitable  temper- 
ament, often  the  yictim  of  her  feelings, 
and  sul)ject  to  seasons  of  deep  depres- 
sion.  On  these  occasions  he  would  listen 
with  the  greatest  of  patience  and  ten- 
derness, while  she  poured  into  his  ear 
the  sad  talc  of  all  her  real  and  imagi- 
nary griefs.  His  efforts  were  unwearied 
to  soothe  her  morbid  sensibilities.  With 
a  nice  discrimination  of  the  case,  with 
a  tact  and  skill  peculiarly  his  own,  he 
would  present  topics  of  consolation,  and 
suggest  such  methods  of  relief  as  he 
felt  were  best  adapted  to  meet  the  vari- 
ous changing  phases  of  such  seasons, 
and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  he  was  often  successful  in  sooth- 
ing her  distress,  restoring  her  composure, 
and  giving  her  more  cheerful  views  of 
things     aroun(^     her.       He     never     grew 


* 

1^' 


176         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

weary  in  liis  attentions,  as  time  and 
increasing  infirmities  made  them  more 
difficult,  but  rather  redoubled  his  efforts 
until   she   no   longer   needed   human  aid. 

During  the  illness  of  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson, 
Mr.  Morse  was  requested  by  him  to  visit 
a  young  shipmaster  who  was  sick.  He 
went  immediately  to  the  sick-bed,  and 
carried  him  his  usual  blessing  of  a 
kind,  sympathetic  presence,  and  Christian 
words,  and  there  sprang  up  a  strong 
attachment  between  him  and  this  young 
man.  The  long  thoughtfulness  of  sick- 
ness, its  solemn  warning,  and  the  pious 
counsels  he  received,  were  blessed  to 
the  invalid,  and  his  return  to  health  was 
not  a  return  to  his  accustomed  habits  of 
feeling,  for  a  new  interest  had  been 
given  him,  and  he  became  a  humble 
disciple   of   Jesus. 

To   Mr.    Morse,   this    new   friend    gave 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         17  < 

great  pleasure,  and  he  felt  the  greatest 
interest  in  the  development  of  his 
Christian  character.  His  uprightness,  his 
decision,  his  energy,  made  liis  influence 
very  valuable.  His  business  on  the  sea 
brought  him  into  close  contact  with 
men  who  were  rough  in  manners,  and 
not  accustomed  to  much  respect  for  re- 
ligious scruples  ;  but  their  shrewdness 
led  them  to  see  that  he  had  the  ring  of 
the  true  metal,  and  if  they  were  not 
changed,  they  were  modified  by  his 
manly    piety. 

"  He  had  a  way  with  him,"  said  one 
of  his  sailors,  "  that  you  could  not  get 
round.  I  never  used  to  be  very  choice 
in  my  words,  but  somehow  I  did  not 
want  to  swear  when  he  was  near,  and 
the  other  hands  felt  just  so."  When 
on  shore,  he  entered  very  warmly  into 
all  the  duties  of  the  church,  and   spoke 


178         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

clearly    and    forcibly  in    the    conference 
room  of  his  experience  and  his  views. 

All  his  brethren  loved  him,  and  to 
Mr.  Morse  he  was  especially  dear,  and 
many  an  hour  of  Christian  fellowship 
did  they  have  together,  strengthening 
each  other  in  faith.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  1852,  he  was  to  sail  for  Norfolk, 
Ya.,  and  great  interest  was  taken  to 
furnish  religious  books  and  papers  for 
him  to  distribute  among  the  crew  and 
otliers,  as  he  had  opportunity.  He  bade 
good-bye  to  his  friends,  with  high  hopes 
of  life,  but  was  never  heard  from ;  it 
is  supposed  he  was  lost  in  a  storm 
which  occurred  at  that  time.  Mr.  Morse 
mourned  for  him  as  for  a  brother,  and 
in  his  last  sickness  he  gave  particular 
directions  for  two  handsome  Bibles — one 
for  the  only  son  of  this  friend,  who 
bore     the    name    of    Charles   Morse,   and 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         179 

the  other  for  the  little  girl,  Flora,  whose 
young  life  had  given  him  so  much 
pleasure.  To  the  last,  he  thought  of 
his     friends. 

In  speaking  of  his  Christian  attach- 
ments, we  may  name  one  who  still  lives 
to  mourn  liis  beloved  friend.  This  was 
a  friend  of  his  riper  years,  in  whom  he 
reposed  the  utmost  confidence,  and  whose 
sympathy  was,  through  life,  a  source 
of  pure  enjoyment  to  him.  Tliey  first 
met  in  1826,  when  both  were  on  a 
water  excursion  during  the  summer.  In 
many  respects,  their  tastes  were  ver^ 
similar,  and  both  had  set  their  faces 
heavenward. 

In  speaking  of  their  intercourse  at  the 
time  of  their  first  acquaintance,  partic- 
ularly of  the  nights  when  they  were 
sailing  together,  Mr.  Morse  used  to  say, 
during    his    last    sickness,   '*  Brother   P., 


180         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

those  were  happy  seasons  to  us.  We 
used  to  talk  together,  read  together,  and 
sing  together,  and  I  wonder  now  that 
we  did  not  pray  together ;  but  I  sup- 
pose we  hardly  felt  ourselves  strong 
enough    for    that." 

These  friends  soon  became  members 
of  the  same  church,  and  were  ever  after 
helpers  of  each  other's  joy.  When,  in 
the  course  of  events,  Mr.  Morse  felt 
constrained  from  conviction  of  duty  to 
change  his  church  relationship,  the  sun- 
dering of  this  tie  was  one  of  the  most 
painful  circumstances  connected  with  that 
event.  Perhaps  his  friend  never  knew 
how  much  this  struggle  cost  him.  They 
had  labored  side  by  side  in  the  church 
and  the  Sabbath  school — their  feelings 
and  opinions  had  been  in  harmony — and 
now,  though  still  members  of  the  same 
great    Cliurcli,    they    were    to    labor     in 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         181 

different  fields,  their  interests  asunder, 
and  liable  possibly  to  clash.  But  their 
friendship  stood  the  test.  Their  harmony 
was  not  interrupted,  and  their  confidence, 
esteem  and  affection  were  not  dimin- 
ished. 

The  devoted  attachment  exhibited  by 
these  friends  durino^  the  sickness  of  Mr. 
Morse,  was  very  touching.  Like  David 
and  Jonathan,  whose  friendship  has  been 
sculptured  for  all  time  by  inspiration, 
they  were  '•  very  pleasant  "  to  each 
other.  Mr.  Morse  would  say,  "  Brother 
P.  is  'a  brother  born  for  adversity,'  " 
and  no  brother  could  watch  with  more 
tenderness  than  did  he  over  the  sufferer, 
striving  in  every  way  that  affectionate 
kindness  could  suggest,  to  add  to  his 
comfort   or   mitigate   his    sufferings: 

During  the  spring  of  1858,-  when  the 
religious  meetings   of  the   town   were   so 

16 


182         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

frequent,  and  so  full  of  rich  spiritual 
interest,  Mr.  P.  would  deny  himself 
an  attendance  on  what  he  enjoyed  so 
highly,  and  wend  his  way  to  the  cham- 
ber of  his  sick  friend,  and  endeavor 
by  his  presence  and  sympathy  to  beguile 
his  weariness.  When,  in  the  arms  of 
faith  and  prayer  he  had  carried  his 
suffering  friend  to  a  compassionate  Sav- 
iour, Mr.  Morse  would  often  exclaim, 
"  Oh,  if  the  communion  of  saints  is  so 
sweet  on  earth,  what  must  heaven  be  ?  " 
Sometimes  he  would  say,  "  If  it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive,  brother 
P.   must   be   doubly   blessed." 

In  both  the  churches  with  which  Mr. 
Morse  had  been  connected,  he  had  many 
warm  friends,  to  whom  his  own  heart 
was  strongly  united.  He,  indeed,  loved 
the  image  of  Christ  wherever  he  saw 
it,   and   when    he   found   any   one    living 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         183 

very  near  to  Jesus,  and  striving  to  do 
his  work  faithfully,  there  his  heart  rested. 
He  once  remarked,  that  "  there  was 
nothing  which  seemed  to  give  him  a 
sweeter  view  of  heaven,  than  the  friend- 
ship existing  between  two  faithful  Christ- 
ians, whose  aims  were  to  honor  the 
Saviour,  and,  as  far  as  it  was  in  their 
power,  to  do  his  will  on  earth." 


184         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC 


CHAPTER     XI. 

INTEREST     IN     PUBLIC     MORALITY. 

Whatever  concerned  public  virtue  or 
justice  was  of  interest  to  Mr.  Morse.  He 
was  too  constant  a  student  of  sacred 
Scripture,  too  much  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  prayer,  to  be  led  away  by  one 
moral  topic,  in  utter  disproportion  to  all 
others. 

It  has  been  said  of  some  men,  that 
"  they  do  not  possess  opinions,  but  are 
possessed  by  them,"  and  it  is  sad  that 
so  many  well-meaning  persons  should 
suffer  some  particular  moral  interest, 
which  is  true  and  noble  of  itself,  to 
usurp  the  place  of  the  whole  Christian 
system,   and   thus   place   the    truth    they 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         185 

advocate  in  false  relations.  Thence  arise 
angry  disputes,  separations  of  brethren, 
and  all  the  evil  train  of  discords,  but 
these  are  no  part  of  the  truth  itself — 
only   of  its   perversions. 

Mr.  Morse  was  earnest  in  his  desire 
that  vice  should  be  banished  from  the 
community,  and  injustice,  oppression,  and 
corruption  should  cease  in  the  affairs  of 
the  country.  He  informed  himself  on 
these  subjects,  and  spoke  of  the  beneficent 
reforms  of  the  day  impartially,  but  ho}je- 
fully.  At  one  time  he  was  conversing 
with  one  who  had  allowed  political 
prejudice  to  blind  his  eyes  to  the  sin 
of  human  bondage,  and  the  enormity 
of  any  laws  which  would  extend  and 
perpetuate  it.  After  bringing  facts  and 
arguments  to  bear  upon  the  subject,  and 
seeing  that  his  opponent  only  grew  more 
positive   in   his  declamations   against  free- 

16* 


186         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

dom,  the  tears  started,  and  he  quietly 
closed  the  door,  and  went  away.  "  It 
was  a  most  forcible  rebuke,"  said  one 
who   was   present. 

At  the  time  that  Mr.  Morse  was  an  ap- 
prentice, the  subject  of  temperance  had 
not  begun  to  agitate  the  public  mind. 
In  the  ship-yard  where  he  worked,  it  was 
the  custom  of  all  to  take  liquor  at 
certain  hours  of  the  day,  feeling  that 
it  strengthened  them  for  labor.  He  saw 
that  the  custom,  if  not  dangerous  to 
every  individual,  was  often  an  injurious 
example  to  those  who  were  weaker,  and 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  came  to  the 
resolution  to  abandon  the  habit.  He 
had  never  read  or  heard  any  thing  on 
the  subject,  but  he  felt  that  it  was  a 
useless,  expensive  and  dangerous  custom, 
and  though  in  his  own  case  he  appre- 
hended no  evil  result,  yet  he  saw,  from 
the     experience    of   those     around     him, 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         187 

that  it  was  not  safe  to  parley  with 
temptation.  With  the  firmness  for  which 
he  was  always  remarkable,  he  was  de- 
cided in  his  purpose.  This  exposed  him 
to  ridicule  and  opposition  from  his 
companions,  who  deemed  his  refusal  an 
absurd  scruple.  But  from  that,  hour, 
he  was  a  warm  friend  and  advocate  of 
total   abstinence. 

Wlien  temperance  became  a  subject  of 
popular  movement,  he  met  with  Dr. 
Beecher's  Lectures,  which  struck  him 
as  having  a  right  bearing  on  the  subject, 
and  calculated  to  do  much  good.  He 
immediately  purchased  the  book,  and 
placed  it  the  hands  of  as  many  as  pos- 
sible. 

Tliere  was  one  friend,  in  whom  he 
felt  a  deep  interest,  who  did  not  take 
the  same  view  of  the  subject  that  he 
did.  Mr.  Morse  felt  very  desirous  that 
he   should    become    acquainted    with   the 


188         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

contents  of  the  book,  and  knowing  that 
he  was  not  very  fond  of  readmg,  he 
took  pains  to  go  to  his  house,  evening 
after  evening,  and  there  read  the  entire 
volume  aloud  to  him.  This  was  the 
greater  effort,  because  it  was  painful 
and  irksome  to  him  to  read  aloud,  but 
the  result  was  good,  and  his  friend 
came  over  to  the  side  of  strict  tem- 
perance,  and   there   he   still   stands. 

We  have  given  this  brief  chapter, 
because  it  seems  to  us  to  enforce  two 
excellent  points.  One  is,  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  every  man,  however  humble 
may  be  his  circumstances,  to  form  his 
own  opinions  on  all  matters  of  right 
and  wrong ;  the  other  is,  that  every  one 
has  some  acquaintances,  with  whom  he 
can  use  persuasion  and  argument,  that 
they  also  may  rally  around  the  truth.  If 
this  is  done,  reform  and  progress  will 
be   no   longer   doubtful. 


r'  H  E  I  S  T  I  A  N     MECHANIC.         189 


CHAPTER    XII. 

SELIGION    IN    DAILY    LIFE. 

'•  The  tcmal   round,   th«  common  task, 
Would  furnish  all   we   ought   to  ask; 
Room   to   deny   ourselves;  a   roid 
To  fcring  us   daily  nearer  God." — Keble- 

As  Mr.  Morse  was  not  one  of  those 
who  excel  in  some  prominent  traits  of 
character,  which  are  in  strong  contrast 
with  certain  deficiencies,  it  is  difficult  to 
do  justice  to  him  in  detail.  We  must 
say  of  him,  as  did  his  pastor,  in  a  ser- 
mon preached  after  his  death,  "  His  re- 
ligious principle  permeated  his  whole 
life.  As  a  mechanic  it  made  him  faith- 
ful  to   his   employer,  truthful   in   all  his 


190         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC, 

statements.  It  was  with  him  as  much 
a  Christian  duty  to  execute  a  contract 
according  to  the  letter  of  the  agree- 
ment,  as  it  was  to  pray  or  to  read  his 
Bible.  His  religion  went  with  him  into 
the  dock,  and,  influenced  by  its  holy  in- 
spiration, he  wrought  at  his  daily  task. 
He  did  not  have  devotion  in  the  church 
and  duplicity  in  business,  but  as  if  ever 
under  the  watchful  eye  of  Heaven,  all 
his  steps  were  taken  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord." 

It  is  believed  that  no  one  who  was 
much  acquainted  with  his  character 
would  ever  hesitate  to  commit  any  trust 
to  him.  A  man  who  knew  him  at  his 
trade,  said,  "  When  you  gave  him  any 
tiling  to  do  he  did  it  thoroughly,  whether 
he  got  the  value  of  his  time  or  not. 
If  you  gave  him  a  boat  to  repair,  he 
made   it   as   tight   as   a  cup.     There   was 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         191 

no  mistake  about  him,  he  was  a  down- 
right faithful  man."  Another,  who  had 
good  opportunities  for  knowing  him,  re- 
marked, "  I  have  often  said  that  he  was 
almost  the  only  person  whose  word  I 
could  fully  believe.  I  never  knew  him 
to  break  a  promise,  and  I  could  receive 
his  statements  without  doubt  or  qualifi- 
cation." 

Strict  as  he  was  in  his  own  rules  of 
conduct,  when  the  dishonesty  of  others 
affected  him,  he  exercised  true  forgive- 
ness and  charity.  A  man  once  employed 
him  on  a  piece  of  work,  for  which  he 
could  have  had  no  intention  of  paying 
him,  as  he  had  previously  made  an  as- 
signment of  all  his  property  to  his 
creditors.  ^Ir.  Morse  went  on  with  his 
engagement,  entirely  ignorant  of  this, 
and  purchased  materials  from  his  own 
means,   until    the   work    was    completed, 


192        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

when  he  was  informed  that  his  employer 
was  bankrupt,  and  could  not  pay  him. 
He  showed  no  resentment  for  this,  and 
would  not  suffer  others  to  speak  harshly 
of  the  circumstance.  But  although  he 
could  so  generously  forgiye  an  injury  to 
himself,  it  grieved  him  to  tlie  heart 
when  the  dishonest  life  of  any  one 
brought  disgrace  to  the  church  of  Christ. 
He  was  once  asked,  "  Why  was  not 
your  Toice,  which  is  always  so  welcome, 
heard  in  the  prayer-meeting  to-night.' ' 
"  I  will  tell  you,"  he  replied,  "  for  you 
ought  to  know.  On  my  way  to  the 
chapel  I  was  told  of  one  who  had 
named  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  had 
made  high  professions,  and  yet  had  been 
attempting  to  wrong  his  neighbor  and 
keep  him  from  what  he  knew  to  be  his 
just  due.  When  I  took  my  seat,  my 
heart  sank  within  me,  it  was  too  full  for 


CHRISTrAN     MECHANIC.         193 

me  to  •  speak.  I  wanted  to  prostrate 
myself  on  the  floor  of  that  chapel,  and 
in  agony  cry  out,  "  0,  Lord,  give  not 
thy  blood-bought  heritage  over  to  re- 
proach." 

Mr.  Morse  was  remarkable  for  doing 
just  the  work  at  hand,  whether  it  was 
in  his  business,  or  in  his  spiritual  life. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  wait  for  extra- 
ordinary opportunities  for  usefulness ;  to 
him  who  patiently  "  does  the  duty 
nearest  him,"  God  will  send  the  special 
occasions.  One  day,  while  Mr.  Morse 
was  at  work  in  the  hold  of  a  vessel, 
lying  at  the  wharf,  he  heard  the  hurried 
rush  of  footsteps,  and  the  cry  "  A  boy 
overboard !  "  He  immediately  sprang  to 
the  deck,  but  only  in  time  to  see  the 
lad  sinking  for  the  last  time.  Without 
waiting  to  divest  himself  of  his  clothing, 
he  jumped   overboard,   but   the   tide   was 


194         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

coming  in,  and  when  lie  rose  to  the 
surface,  the  strong  current  had  borne 
the  boy  so  far  under  the  vessel  that  he 
was  beyond  his  reach.  In  the  very 
death-struggle,  he  threw  out  his  arms,, 
and  Mr.  Morse  succeeded  in  grasping 
his  hand,  and  drew  him  out  of  the 
water.  The  lad  was  apparently  lifeless, 
but  he  was  resuscitated ;  one  moment 
more  and  he  would  have  been  so  far 
under  the  vessel,  that  no  earthly  arm 
could  reach  him.  A  number  of  persons 
on  the  wharf  were  anxious  spectators 
of  the  thrilling  scene,  but  no  other 
person   made  any  effort   to   save   him. 

Another  similar  circumstance  illustrates 
the  wonderful  providence  which  often 
causes  the  most  important  results  to 
hinge  on  apparently  trivial  incidents. 
One  day,  when  Mr.  Morse  was  at  his 
work,   there  arose  in   his   mind   a   strong 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         195 

inclination  to  go  home.  He  knew  not 
wliy  he  should  feel  this  desire,  as  there 
seemed  to  be  nothing  imperative  to  call 
him  there,  and  he  resisted  the  impulses 
and  continued  his  work.  Again  the  im- 
pression came,  and  grew  stronger  and 
stronger.  He  must  go  home^  and  with- 
out delay.  Finally,  he  dropped  his  tools, 
feeling  that  he  must  obey  that  inward 
voice,  and  walked  towards  his  home, 
though  he  knew  not  the  reason  why  he 
should  do  so.  As  he  reached  the  door, 
his  mother  stood  there,  waiting  to  see 
some  one  who  would  do  a  small  errand 
for  her,  which  she  could  not  conveniently 
defer,  and  as  she  saw  her  son  approach- 
ing she  asked  the  favor  of  him,  and  he, 
with  his  usual  kindness,  instantly  com- 
plied with  the  request.  As  he  passed 
into  High  street,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Pond,  he  heard  the  cry,  ''  My  child  !  my 
child !     will    no     one     save    him  ?"     He 


196         CHRISTIAN      QIECHANIC. 

rushed  to  the  spot  whence  the  sound 
issued,  and  found  a  mother  wringing 
her  hands  in  agony,  while  her  little  child 
was  sinking  in  the  water.  Mr.  Morse 
was  just  in  season  to  rescue  him  from  a 
watery  grave,  and  restore  him  to  the 
arms  of  his  grateful  mother.  Tlie  little 
one  had  wandered,  in  its  play,  to  the 
pond,  and  the  mother,  in  seeking  for  it, 
had  found  it  in  that  dangerous  position. 
In  speaking  of  this  circumstance  subse- 
quently, Mr.  Morse  said,  "  I  should  like 
to  know  the  future  history  of  that  child, 
the  providence  of  God  was  so  striking  in 
its  deliverance.  I  was  neither  supersti- 
tious, nor  governed  much  by  impulse ;  I 
never  remember  to  have  had  my  mind 
so  impressed  before,  yet  had  I  resisted 
that  inward  voice,  and  continued  at  my 
work  one  moment  longer^  the  child  would 
have  perished  !  " 

We  have   spoken    of    Mr.    Morse's  in- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         197 

diistry  and  faithfulness  in  daily  labor  at 
his  trade,  and  of  those  two  hours  of 
study  every  day,  that  he  might  graft 
knowledge  on  to  the  stock  of  his  natural 
abilities,  that  thus  the  Great  Husband- 
man might  find  fruit.  But  there  was 
another  part  of  his  work  in  which  he 
was  just  as  constant  and  faithful.  We 
mean  his  ministrations  to  the  aged,  the 
lonely,  the  destitute '  and  the  afflicted. 
These  were  not  occasional,  when  very 
peculiar  cases  came  to  his  knowledge,  or 
when  any  direct  claims  were  made  upon 
him.  They  were  desolated  or  suffering 
households  which  became  known  to  him 
in  his  daily  walk,  and  after  they  were 
known  they  were  never  forgotten  or  neg- 
lected, while  their  necessities  continued. 
His  was  not  a  kind  of  benevolence  which 
gains  enthusiasm  in  co-operative  efforts 
with     others,     which     is     attracted      by 

17* 


198         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC, 

novelty,  or  held  by  gratitude.  He  waiy 
sensitive  and  grateful  in  his  own  nature, 
but  he  did  not  ask  for  a  grateful  ap- 
preciation of  his  services,  nor  withdraw 
them  if  it  was  wanting.  There  was  one 
old  lady  who  was  not  remarkable  for 
amiability  of  temper  or  any  feelings  of 
gratitude,  yet  not  a  week  passed  for 
nearly  twenty  years,  but  she  received 
some  donations  from  him,  either  a  dinner 
from  his  own  table,  or  some  other  offer- 
ing. She  had  no  claim  on  him,  except 
that  she  was  needy,  and  a  member  of 
the  church  to  which  he  formerly  be- 
longed. When  others  spoke  of  her 
peculiarities,  he  once  designated  her  as 
*'  one  of  the  unlovely  Christians,"  and 
playfully  remarked,  "  Grace  is  sometimes 
grafted  on  a  crab-stick."  So  it  was,  that 
he  always  had  some  particular  individuals 
who  were  the  special  objects  of  his 
bounty.     But  he  literally  obeyed   the  in- 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         199 

junction,  "  When  thou  doest  alms,  let 
not  thy  left  hand  know  what  thy  right 
hand   doeth." 

In  order  to  be  charitable,  he  denied 
his  tastes.  He  had  a  great  fondness  for 
books  and  pictures.  He  used  to  say  to 
his  wife,  "  If  I  could  afford  it,  there  is 
one  luxury  I  should  enjoy  exceedingly, 
and  that  would  be  to  surround  myself 
with  beautiful  pictures."  A  friend  on 
whom  he  sometimes  called,  says,  "I  al- 
ways noticed  that  whenever  he  came  to 
our  house  he  looked  with  great  pleasure 
at  the  different  engravings  in  the  room. 
I  remember  when  he  first  saw  them, 
he  went  to  each  one,  and  examined  it 
particularly,  and  I  was  struck  with  the 
justice  of  his  criticisms.  He  discerned 
very  quickly  the  best  points  of  a  picture. 
I  once  heard  him  comment  on  a  large 
lithograph  of  ^  The  Translators  of  the 
Bible,'    which  interested  him  very  much, 


200         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  he  spoke  with  a  nice  discrimination 
of  the  characteristics  of  Luther,  Melanc- 
thon  and  the  others,  showing  his  famil- 
iarity with  the  subject,  and  his  natural 
taste." 

That  he  might  be  true  to  his  religious 
obligations,  and  charitable  to  the  needy, 
Mr.  Morse  practiced  the  most  rigid 
economy.  As  every  one  should  do,  who 
wishes  to  be  just,  he  kept  a  strict  ac- 
count of  all  his  expenses,  and  never,  for 
the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life,  allowed 
the  1st  of  January  to  pass  without  settling 
all  his  accounts,  and  paying  all  his 
debts.  His  income  never  exceeded  five 
hundred  dollars  a  year,  yet  of  this 
amount,  it  was  his  rule  to  give,  at  least, 
one  eighth  part  in  charity.  In  the 
sermon,  to  which  reference  has  been 
made,  it  is  said  that,  "  Of  his  charities 
he  made  no  account  in  detail,  lest,  per- 
haps, the  review  might  incite  to  spiritual 


christia;^    mechanic.       201 

pride.  How  strikingly  does  this  teach 
us  the  Christian  spontaneity  which  is  one 
of  the  crowning  graces  of  the  sanctified 
life — the  Holy  Spirit  creating  such  har- 
mony with  God's  will  in  the  heart,  that 
benevolent  acts  spring  from  it  like  the 
vegetation  of  the  rich  soil.  Of  worldly 
expenditure  he  took  note  and  careful 
watch,  but  the  charities  which  were  for 
God's  service  sprang  from  the  fullness  of 
love,  and  passed  unrecorded." 

May  we  linger  yet  longer  on  the  ex- 
ample of  Mr.  Morse,  which  shows  the 
value  of  being  "  just  before  one  is 
generous."  It  is  to  be  feared  there  are 
some  who  will  cast  large  gifts  into  the 
Lord's  treasury,  while,  at  the  same  time, 
they  withhold  what  is  due  to  their  fellow- 
men  ;  and  of  such  may  not  the  Master 
inquire,  as  they  present  their  offerings, 
"  Who  hath  required  this  at  your  hands  ? 
Wash  ye,  make  you  clean,  put  away  the 


203//;     CHRISTIA.2^     MECHANIC. 

evil  of  your  doings  before  mine  eyes, 
seek  judgment,  relieve  the  oppressed, 
judge  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the 
widow."  Mr.  Morse  often  observed,  "  A 
religion  that  did  not  make  men  honest 
was  not  worth  much."  He  was  asked 
one  day  if  he  believed  there  could  be 
such  a  thing  as  a  dishonest  Christian. 
He  looked  suddenly  into  the  face  of  the 
inquirer,  and  answered,  with  great  em- 
phasis, "  No  !  There  may  be  dishonest 
professors ;  and,  to  my  grief,  I  fear  there 
are  too  many  such  at  present;  but  a  dis- 
honest Christian^  —  why  there  is  no 
meaning  in  the  phrase !  Christianity,  we 
are  told,  is  to  love  God  with  all  our 
hearts,  and  our  neighbor  as  ourselves, 
and,  knowing  this,  can  we  cheat,  rob,  or 
take  an  unfair  advantage  of  him  to 
benefit  ourselves,  and  yet  suppose  that 
we  love  and  obey  the  law  of  God  ?" 
If  we    look  at    his  practice  of  a  strict 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         203 

account  and  regular  settlements  of  ex- 
penses, simply  as  it  relates  to  personal  J 
benefit,  the  wisdom  of  it  must  be  ac- 
knowledged. He  could  walk  abroad  with 
peace  of  mind,  conscious  that  he  "  owed 
no  man  any  thing  but  love,"  and  that 
such  a  course  was  in  obedience  to  the 
law  of  God.  He  felt  that  a  Christian 
should  be  scrupulously  honest,  and  he 
often  said,  "  the  cause  of  Christ  suffers 
much  from  the  failure  of  its  professed 
friends  to  pay  their  little  debts ;  it  is 
these  dead  flies  that  cause  the  ointment 
to  send  forth  an  unpleasant  odor — it  is 
these  little  foxes  that  spoil  the  vines." 
Truly,  it  may  be  said  of  Mr.  Morse  that, 

"  What   his  charity   impairs, 
He    saves   by   prudence   in    affairs, 
And  thus  is  just  to  all  mankind." 


204         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

MISSIONARY      SPIRIT. 

"  Sow  in  the  morn  thy  seed, 
At  eve  hold  not  thj'  hand  ; 
To  doubt  and  fear  give  thou  no  heed  ; 
Broadcast  it  o'er  the  land  ! 

''  Thou  canst  not  toil  in  vain : 

Cold,  heat,  and  moist  and  dry, 
Shall  foster  and  mature  the  grain 
For  garners  in  the  sky."— Montgomert. 

Full  as  Mr.  Morse's  life  was  of  religious 
duties,  of  busy  charities,  of  heartfelt 
sympathy  with  those  around  him,  he 
did  not  forget  the  interests  of  Christian 
extension — the  legacy  of  missions  which 
Jesus  has  left  to  all  his  disciples.  He. 
was    careful    to    inform    himself   of   all 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         205 

that  the  messengers  of  the  gospel  were 
doing  in  different  parts  of  the  world, 
and  he  arranged  this  information  in  his 
own  mind,  so  that  each  portion  of  the 
missionary  field  should  be  distinct,  and 
he  could  understand  the  relation  of  each 
part  to  the  entire  result.  It  is  to  be 
feared  that  an  intelligent  comprehension 
of  missionary  operations  is  not  suffi- 
ciently common,  and  this  want  is  prac- 
tical in  its  consequences,  for  we  cannot 
sympathize  with  that  of  which  we  have 
no  knowledge — hence  lukewarm  zeal  fol- 
lows   dim  perceptions. 

The  monthly  concert  of  missions  was 
one  of  peculiar  interest  to  Mr.  Morse, 
and  his  contribution  of  intelligence  to 
the  reports  of  the  evening  was  very 
valuable.  It  was  customary  at  his  church 
to  assign  to  each  brother  some  partic- 
ular post  of   missions  to  report,  in  order 

IS 


206         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

to  stimulate  to  greater  diligence  in 
inquiry,  and  to  give  freshness  and  indi- 
viduality to  the  subjects  of  the  meeting. 
The  plan  seemed  to  insure  more  dis- 
tinctness and  thoroughness  of  investiga- 
tion, and  greater  interest  in  presentation 
to  the  audience.  Mr.  Morse  had  China 
assigned  to  him,  and  he  spared  no 
pains  to  collect  every  item  of  informa- 
tion respecting  that  nation,  and  every 
indication  of  future  good  to  the  people. 
He  entered  into  its  political  history,  the 
character  and  customs  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, and  the  particular  application  of 
Christianity  to  their  wants.  He  inter- 
wove his  reflections  in  a  most  interest- 
ing manner,  with  the  facts  he  presented, 
and  clustered  around  them  his  own 
thoughts  in  a  way  peculiar  to  himself. 
The  philosophical  turn  of  his  mind  and 
his   habits   of  analysis  were  very  evident 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         207 

in  his  remarks  in  the  conference  room, 
and  they  prevented  the  often  told  truth 
from  ever  growing  hackneyed  from  his 
lips.  His  faith  threw  a  beautiful  light 
and  heat  over  his  subjects.  He  believed 
that  China  would  one  day  be  open  to 
receive  the  message  of  salvation,  and 
for  this  he  prayed  most  fervently.  Those 
who  have  listened  to  his  voice  in  the 
chapel,  as  he  spoke  of  that  nation,  and 
of  the  rescue  of  the  whole  heathen 
world  from  darkness,  cannot  forget  him, 
nor,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  the  interests  so 
dear  to  him,  and  made  so  interesting 
by  him.  If  this  memory  can  incite  to 
the  same  faithfulness  in  others,  his  mis- 
sionary work  on  earth  is  not  yet  finished. 
"  The  seed  springs  up  while  the  hus- 
bandman  sleepeth." 

To    the    cause    of    missions,    and     of 
every   pious  enterprise  which  claimed  his 


208         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

attention,  Mr.  Morse  was  very  liberal. 
He  considered  his  contributions  to  such 
as  much  due,  as  any  debt  he  owed  to 
a  fellow-man.  We  have  stated  how 
small  his  income  was,  but  no  matter 
for  that ;  he  often  said,  "  I  don't  think 
much  of  that  charity  which  gives  what 
we  think  we  can  spare  without  any 
self-denial ;  we  ought  to  give  till  we 
feel  it."  Some  one  made  the  objection, 
"  There  are  so  many  calls,"  and  pressed 
him  for  his  opinion,  when  he  said,  "  I 
believe  that  I  never  said  no  to  a  call 
in  my  life,  and  never  but  once  did  I 
regret  giving."  He  not  only  gave  lib- 
erally to  objects  of  benevolence,  but  he 
performed  a  large  amount  of  labor  as 
solicitor  of  subscriptions.  In  this  duty 
his  delicacy  of  feeling  and  ready  per- 
ceptions gave  him  great  advantage ;  he 
knew  hoio  to   approach    persons,   and   to 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         209 

be  earnest  in  his  cause  without  being 
untimely  or  unduly  importunate.  He 
was  very  successful,  and  would  often 
succeed  in  applications  where  others 
failed.  He  once  said,  "  I  believe  beg- 
ging  is   my  forte." 

In  the  autumn  of  1856,  the  Whit- 
field Church  engaged,  by  the  advice  of 
the  pastor,  in  a  home  missionary  effort 
to  supply  the  spiritual  wants  of  the 
needy,  and  to  draw  to  the  house  of 
God  those  who  had  no  stated  place  of 
worship.  A  benevolent  individual  in  the 
society  gave,  for  this  purpose,  a  large 
number  of  the  "  Messenger "  and  the 
"  Child's  Paper."  The  city  was  districted, 
and  different  members  of  the  church 
volunteered  their  services,  taking  such 
districts  as  they  chose  for  their  own, 
to  visit  the  destitute  families  in  them, 
distribute    tracts,    and    papers,    and    by 

18* 


210         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

other  methods,  endeavor  to  interest  them 
in  religions  truth.  Reports  of  the  suc- 
cess of  this  mission  were  rendered  every 
month,  at  a  meeting  held  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  they  were  very  interesting  to 
those   who   heard  them. 

This  method  was  very  congenial  to 
the  Christian  activity  and  benevolence 
of  Mr.  Morse,  and  he  took  an  earnest 
part  in  the  movement.  He  always  chose 
for  his  districts  those  localities  that 
would  be  most  likely  to  have  the  greatest 
destitution.  He  was  indefatigable  in  the 
good  work,  and  often  spent  entire  days 
in  going  from  house  to  house,  convers- 
ing personally  with  individuals,  and 
endeavoring  to  persuade  those  who  had 
no  religious  home,  to  attend  some  church, 
and  to  gather  the  destitute  children  into 
the    Sabbath   school. 

In  all  these  efforts  he  was  never  treated 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         211 

ill,  and  seldom  were  his  tracts  or  papers 
refused.  When  he  effected  an  opening, 
he  did  not  forget  it,  but  followed  the 
entering  wedge  with  repeated  strokes. 
Where  he  called  a  second  time,  he  was 
sure  to  meet  a  cordial  welcome,  especi- 
ally if  there  were  any  children  in 
the  family.  His  kindly  manner,  and 
his  Child's  Paper  were  ever  a  passport 
to  every  youthful  heart.  If  he  saw 
children  at  play  round  the  door  of  a 
dwelling,  or  saw  them  hanging  around 
some  of  the  inmates,  he  took  courage, 
and  felt  he  had  some  clue  to  the  sym- 
pathies of   the  elders. 

In  these  walks  of  usefulness,  he  would 
sometimes  find  one  of  "  God's  hidden 
ones,"  as  he  used  to  call  them,  some 
poor,  afflicted,  and  perhaps  neglected^ 
disciple,  and  well  did  he  feel  himself 
repaid    for  all    his   efforts,  if   he    could 


212        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

by  sympathy  and  kindness,  give  conso- 
lation to  such,  and  turn  their  darkened 
thoughts  to  the  great  Fountain  of  light. 
Although  this  mission  had  a  direct  Tefer- 
ence  to  spiritual  want,  yet  he  did  not 
neglect  the  temporal  destitution  which 
often  met  him  in  these  haunts.  He  fol- 
lowed  the  example  of  his  beloved  Master, 
who  "  fed  the  multitude,"*  and  gave 
them  healing  for  disease,  while  he  taught 
them   eternal  life. 

Mr.  Morse  continued  in  this  mission 
until  his  last  sickness,  and  it  is  to  be 
deeply  regretted  that  no  written  reports 
of  these  labors  can  now  be  found.  Many 
a  story  of  touching  pathos  did  he  tell, 
and  many  a  useful  lesson  did  he  extract 
from  his  visits  of  mercy,  but  they  were 
not  preserved.  The  flower  has  faded, 
though  the  perfume  lingers  still.  We 
cannot  present   specific    instances,  as   we 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         213 

could  wish,  but  we  can  see  that  he 
closely  imitated  Him  who  "  went  about 
doing  good,"  both  to  the  bodies  and 
souls  of  men,  and  that  he  literally 
obeyed  the  injunction,  "  Bear  ye  one 
another's  burdens,  and  so  fulfill  the  law 
of  Christ."  His  Christian  life  was  one 
continued  mission,  and  though  he  has 
departed,  leaving  no  written  record  of 
his  deeds  of  mercy,  yet  they  are  recorded 
on    high,    and  will   one    day   be   known. 


214         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC 


CHAPTER    XIY. 

LIFE        OF        PRAYER. 

Mr.  Morse  was  a  man  of  prayer,  and 
here  was  the  secret  of  his  strength.  A 
plant  shut  up  where  the  rays  of  the 
sun  cannot  reach  it,  grows  sickly,  and 
finally  withers  and  dies ;  but  if  placed 
where  it  can  receive  light  and  heat,  its 
life  advances,  and  it  will  reach  matu- 
rity and  beauty.  So  with  the  Christian. 
If  lives  continually  beneath  the  beams 
of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  he  will 
grow,  and  thrive,  and  be  "  strong  in 
the  Lord,"  and  bring  forth  abundant 
fruit. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         215 

Prayer,  to  be  constant  and  effective 
to  the  individual,  requires  regularity  of 
time  and  place.  With  Mr.  Morse,  it  was 
the  custom  always  to  retire  three  times 
a  day  to  his  closet ;  and  whenever  any 
burden,  either  of  a  temporal  or  spirit- 
ual nature,  oppressed  him,  he  did  not 
rush  into  the  world,  and  lose  his  anxiety 
by  mixing  with  its  busy  scenes,  but  he 
went  to  that  Friend  of  friends,  and 
poured  out  to  Him  every  perplexity  and 
sorrow ;  then  and  there,  with  childlike 
confidence,  he  would  leave  them,  feel- 
ing that  his  heavenly  Father  would  order 
all  things  well.  He  frequently  remarked 
that  "  there  was  no  trial  too  small  for 
us  to  carry  to  the  throne  of  grace ; 
and  if  we  should  pray  more,  and  com- 
plain less,  God  would  be  honored,  and 
religion  would  not  present  the  gloomy 
aspect   it    now    does    before  the  world." 


216         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

All  who  ever  heard  him  pray,  felt  at 
once  that  he  lived  very  near  the  mercy 
seat.  A  lady  was  asked  if  she  was 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Morse,  and  she  re- 
plied :  ''  Not  personally,  but  I  have  fre- 
quently heard  him  pray  at  the  School 
Street  Chapel,  and  I  think  I  can  judge 
something  of  his  character  from  his 
prayers."  A  little  boy  who  once  heard 
him  pray  with  a  family  who  were  in 
affliction,  noticed  that  some  one  was 
speaking  of  a  person  by  the  name  of 
Morse,  and  inquired  if  it  was  "  the  Mr. 
Morse  who  prayed  so  good."  When  he 
led  the  devotions  of  others  there  was  an 
appropriateness  of  expression,  a  fervency 
of  spirit,  and  depth  of  feeling,  combined 
with  such  profound  reverence  and  deep 
prostration  of  the  soul  before  God,  that 
those  who  heard  him  felt  he  was  one 
who  "  walked  with  God."     But  it  was  in 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         217 

his  home  devotions,  as  priest  over  his  own 
household,  and  before  the  family  altar,  that 
he  excelled.  Here  in  the  bosom  of  his 
family,  without  any  restraint,  would  he 
bring  in  the  arms  of  faith  those  who 
were  so  dear  to  him,  and  with  simple, 
childlike  confidence,  commit  them  and 
all  their  concerns  into  the  arms  and 
keeping  of  his  heavenly  Father.  He 
who  was  so  constantly  in  communion 
with  God,  could  not  fail  to  carry  about 
with  him  a  savor  of  heavenly  and  divine 
things. 

"  ^Vlien  one  who  holds  communion  with  the  skies, 
Has  filled  his  urn  where  these   pure  waters  rise, 
And  once  more    mingles  with  us   meaner  things, 
'Tis  e'en  as  if  an  angel  shook  his  wings ; 
Immortal  fragrance  fills  the  circle  wide, 
That  tells  us  whence  his  treasures  are  supplied." 

Mr.   Morse  was   peculiarly  welcome  to 

19 


218         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

all  in  trial  and  affliction.  He  felt 
acutely  the  sorrows  of  his  fellow-men. 
Perhaps  if  there  was  one  marked  trait 
of  character  in  which  he  shone  most 
brightly,  it  was  in  his  efforts  to  mit- 
igate human  suffering  and  woe.  He 
almost  seemed  to  be  made  for  this  very 
purpose.  Having  himself  been  chastened 
and  disciplined  by  suffering,  he  became, 
as  one  expressed  it,  an  angel  of  mercy 
to  every  sorrowing  heart.  There  was 
something  in  the  placid  but  subdued 
expression  of  his  cou.ntenance,  and  his 
peculiar  tone  of  voice,  which  told  at 
once  on  the  heart  of  the  afflicted, 
secured  their  confidence  and  love,  and 
led  them  to  feel  that  they  had  his  sym- 
pathy   and   prayers. 

We  have  spoken  of  his  benevolence, 
but  with  him  charity  and  prayer  were 
so  associated  together  that  we  cannot 
separate    them.     When    he    had    spoken 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         219 

his  words  of  kindness,  or  breathed  his 
petitions  to  the  Giver  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift,  he  often  opened  that  little 
purse,  which  was  most  frugally  con- 
sulted in  his  own  behalf,  and  left  some 
tangible  token  of  his  interest.  If  he 
visited  a  family  where  he  saw  that  the 
want  of  a  little  money  was  severely 
felt,  and  it  was  not  at  that  time  con- 
venient for  him  to  give,  he  would  call 
on  friends,  and  represent  the  case  to 
them,  and  when  a  donation  was  obtained, 
it  was  carried  to  the  needy  one  with  so 
much  delicacy,  that  it  was  felt  to  be  a 
token  of  esteem,  and  not  alms.  There 
is  a  vast  difference  in  the  manner  of 
bestowing  charity.  Some  will  visit  a 
needy  friend,  whose  heart  may  be  sensi- 
tively alive  to  a  new  position  of  trial, 
and  their  assistance  will  prove  a  soothing 
balm ;  others  may  bring  a  similar  offering, 


220         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  it  will  be  like  a  dagger,  only  to 
open   a  wider  wound. 

"  Oh,"  said  one  of  the  children  of 
sorrow,  "  what  a  blessing  were  Mr. 
Morse's  visits  to  me.  Often,  when  I 
felt  crushed,  and  ready  to  sink  under 
my  troubles,  he  would  come  in,  and  his 
wonderful  prayers,  uttered  in  those  gentle 
tones,  and  his  deep  and  soothing  sympa- 
thies, were  like  balm  to  my  troubled 
soul." 

Said  another,  "  I  can  never  forget  his 
visits  to  me  in  a  time  of  deep  affliction. 
He  came  again  and  again,  conversing 
and  praying  with  me ;  and  oh,  such 
prayers  as  he  offered  !  Surely,  I  thought, 
they  must  be  answered.  His  visits  were 
always  full  of  comfort  and  consolation." 
Another  exclaimed,  "  How  my  heart 
rejoiced  when  I  saw  that  precious  man 
coming  in  at  the  door.     He  would  always 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         221 

say  something  to  encourage  me  amid  my 
difficulties,  and  often  bring  some  little 
delicacy,  either  from  his  table  or  his 
garden,  and  inquire  into  my  wants,  and 
pray  for  me  and  mine,  as  no  other 
person  ever  did.  I  shall  never  again 
find  a  friend  like  him."  One  who  had 
been  sick  said,  ''  I  shall  long  remember 
his  visits  to  my  sick-chamber.  However 
others  might  neglect  me,  he  never  did. 
There  are  but  few  so  well  qualified  to 
visit  a  sick-chamber,  as  he  was.  I  was 
always  comforted  and  profited ;  his  calls 
were   like   angels'  visits." 

He  once  visited  a  dwelling  where 
death  had  entered,  and  removed  two 
of  its  inmates.  One  of  them  was  a 
father,  who  had  left  a  little  family 
of  children.  It  was  on  a  lovely  Sab- 
bath evening,  and  the  little  ones  were 
gathered   around   their   widowed    mother, 

19* 


222         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

when  the  footsteps  of  Mr.  Morse  were 
heard,  and  he  took  his  seat  among  them. 
As  this  family  did  not  worship  at  the 
same  church  with  him,  he  was  a  stranger 
to  the  children,  but  as  he  entered  into 
conversation,  and  spoke  of  the  unseen 
realities  of  the  other  world  —  of  the 
wisdom  of  God  in  sending  affliction  to 
his  creatures  —  of  his  gracious  designs 
in  every  trial, — the  attention  of  the 
children  was  arrested,  and  they  gazed 
upon  him  with  a  kind  of  admiring 
wonder. 

At  the  close  of  the  evening,  at  the 
request  of  the  mother,  he  knelt  down 
and  prayed.  Language  would  seem  in- 
adequate to  describe  that  prayer.  He 
appeared  like  one  talking  face  to  face 
with  God.  The  solemnity  of  his  manner, 
the  deep  humility  and  prostration  of  soul, 
the  earnest  pleading,  the  strong  faith,  the 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         223 

melting  tone — can  it  ever  be  forgotten  ? 
It  almost  seemed  as  if  one  needed  to 
be  sheltered  in  the  "  cleft  of  the  rock," 
and  covered  by  the  Omnipotent  hand, 
while  "  tlie  glory  of  God  was  passing 
by." 

As  in  every  trial  of  his  own,  his  refuge 
was  the  throne  of  grace,  so  did  he 
attempt  to  lead  every  sufferer  there 
also.  Often,  when  visiting  those  who 
were  in  affliction,  he  would  speak  of  the 
sweet  privilege  of  drawing  near  to  God. 
He  lived  in  this  constant  communion, 
and  he  well  knew  the  fullness  of  that 
overflowing  Fountain,  and  longed  that 
every  weary  soul  should  avail  itself  of 
the  rich  supply.  He  once  remarked — 
"  Prayer  is  a  privilege  of  which  we 
seem  to  form  a  low  conception.  'We 
sometimes  feel  it  a  task  to  break  off 
awhile  from  the  world,  and  retire  to  hold 


224         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

communion  with  the  King  of  kings. 
How  strange !  we  have  sorrows  which 
none  but  God  can  heal,  wants  which 
none  but  he  can  supply,  sins  which  he 
alone  can  pardon  ;  and  the  immortal 
part  of  our  nature  has  a  thirst  for  some- 
thing more  than  earth  can  furnish,  and 
yet,  how  far  we  live  below  our  privilege ! 
how  little  time  we  spend  in  prayer ! " 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         225 


CHAPTER     XV. 

LAST      DAYS. 

"  Though  the  light  of  his  life  to  our  vision  is  o'er, 
The  light  of  his  spirit  will  burn  evermore." 

It  would  be  an  omission  in  this  sketch, 
if  no  mention  was  made  of  the  faults 
of  its  subject.  "  The  faults  of  a  good 
man  should  be  exhibited  like  the  scars 
of  a  hero,"  says  one.  They  show  the 
struggles  through  which  he  has  passed, 
and  how  much  grace  has  had  to  over- 
come. Faults  subdued  are  the  trophies 
of   the   Holy   Spirit. 

Mr.   Morse    spoke    of   himself   as    nat- 
urally irritable,  and  from  his   quick   and 


226         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

sensitive  feelings  we  can  easily  infer 
such  a  possibility;  but  if  so,  his  weak- 
ness was  made  strength,  for  his  caution, 
forbearance,  and  patience  were  very  re- 
markable. He  had  so  much  firmness 
and  persistency  in  the  Christian  course, 
that  perhaps  without  the  controlling 
influence  which  reigned  in  his  character, 
he  might  have  been  obstinate  or  "  set  in 
his  ways."  He  certainly  felt  that  he 
had  a  sinful  nature  to  contend  with — to 
conquer.  No  one  felt  this  more  than 
himself ;  no  one  mourned  more  deeply 
over  the  remains  of  indwelling  sin.  He 
said  one  day  to  a  friend — 

"  If,  as  a  rebel,  I  have  been  pardoned, 
and  washed  in  atoning  blood,  and  jus- 
tified, I  have  a  deep  conviction,  from 
the  experience  of  every  hour,  that  I 
am   sanctified   only   in    part,   and   should 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         227 

I  ever  reach  heaven,  oh,  it  would  be 
a   wonder   of   mercy." 

His  pastor  said  to  the  church,  "  Those 
of  us  who  have  been  acquainted  with 
him  for  the  last  few  years,  hardly  know 
the  constitutional  foundations  of  his  char- 
acter, he  was  so  much  transformed  by 
the   power   of  grace." 

He  made  but  one  impression,  even 
on  very  dissimilar  people,  and  that  was 
of  entire  consecration  to  Christ.  His 
whole  being  was  held  by  him  as  be- 
longing to  God,  and  this  principle  so 
entirely  permeated  him,  that,  like  a 
mother's  devotion  to  her  child,  it  did 
not  need  forcing  or  special  motive,  but 
rose  spontaneously  and  supremely  above 
every  other  consideration.  This  work 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  gave  a  unity  and 
beauty  to  the  humble  life,  and  made  it 
fragrant   with  holy  affections.     His   heart 


228         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  his  treasure  were  one.  Unobtrusive 
as  he  was  in  appearance,  retiring  and 
rather  reserved  in  manner,  earning  his 
living  by  hard,  manual  labor,  and  without 
any  of  those  abundant  opportunities  which 
invite  the  sons  of  fortune  to  usefulness, 
yet  he  made  others  so  much  better  and 
happier  by  his  presence,  and  left  a  mem- 
ory so  "  blessed,"  as  we  are  told  that 
of  "the  just"  shall  be,  that  we  would 
fain  linger  before  we  speak  of  the  last 
days. 

During  the  summer  of  1857,  Mr. 
Morse's  health,  which  was  never  firm, 
began  to  fail,  and  he  often  complained 
of  lassitude  and  weakness.  In  October 
of  that  year,  while  at  his  daily  work, 
his  foot  slipped,  and  he  fell  into  the 
water,  by  which  accident  he  took  a 
severe  cold.  The  result  was  a  fever, 
which    finally   terminated    in    a    decline. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         229 

His  sickness  was  protracted,  and  from 
a  complication  of  diseases,  his  sufferings 
were  often  severe.  From  the  first  he 
had  most  distressing  and  sleepless  nights, 
and  from  January  a  severe  cough  racked 
his   whole   frame. 

During  this  painful  sickness,  he  showed 
the  most  meek,  uncomplaining  patience 
and  submission  to  the  Divine  will,  and 
no  murmuring  or  fretful  word  escaped 
his  lips.  He  received,  with  deep  emo- 
tion, the  sympathy  of  friends,  and  his 
gentle  "  I  thank  you,"  testified  to  the 
gratitude  he  felt  for  their  efforts  to  re- 
lieve his  sufferings,  and  minister  to  his 
wants.  Like  many  victims  of  consump- 
tion, he  was  for  a  long  time  flattered 
with  the  hope  of  recovery,  and  indeed 
there  were  times  when  his  friends  m- 
dulged  the  same  delusive  dream.  He 
would,  on  such  occasions  say,   "  I  believe 

20 


230         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

that  the  bitterness  of  death  is  passed, 
and  I  shall  yet  praise  the  Lord  in  the 
land  of  the  living."  When  his  expec- 
tations of  recovery  were  thus  bright,  he 
would  often  remark,  "  I  cannot  say,  with 
Paul,  that  I  desire  to  depart.  I  should 
love  to  live  and  labor  for  the  church  a 
little  longer ;  but  I  have  no  will  about 
it ;  I  am  willing  to  leave  it  with  my 
heavenly  Father,  to  do  just  as  he  pleases ; " 
and  he  would  often  close  by  repeating 
the  words  of  Watts : 

*'  Now   I   forbid   my   carnal   hope, 
My   fond  desires  recall ; 
1   give   my   mortal  interests   up, 
And  make  my   God  my  all." 

In  the  winter  and  sprhig  of  1858, 
there  arose  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
revivals  of  religion  that  our  country  has 
ever  known.  From  Maine  to  Georgia, 
from    the    busiest  marts   of    trade,    an(^ 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         231 

from  the  most  retired  hamlets,  there 
came  the  report  of  the  profound  spirit- 
ual inquiry,  which  was  the  one  absorbing 
topic  of  the  people.  This  new  interest, 
which  was  without  any  external  cause, 
without  any  noise  or  excitement,  was 
prolonged  and  intense.  Instead  of  busi- 
ness or  politics,  the  main  subject  of 
conversation  in  the  cars  or  the  steamboat 
was  religion.  Places  of  amusement  were 
- — converted  into  chapels  of  prayer,  daily 
meetings  for  conference  and  prayer 
sprang  up  in  the  busiest  places,  and 
were  attended  by  all  ages  and  classes 
of  people.  The  preceding  year  had  been 
one  of  financial  calamity,  and  men  had 
been  taught  how  utterly  unreliable  is  all 
material   good,   and   had   seen   that 

"  He  builds  too  low  who  builds  beneath  the  skies." 

The   riches   of    Divine  love  were    seen 
in  contrast  with  the  disaster  and  poverty 


232         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

which    had    saddened    so     many     homes. 
Christians   might  well   exclaim : 

"  Lo,   thy   church,   thy   garden   now 

Blooms  beneath  the  heavenly  shower; 
Sinners  feel,   and   melt,   and   bow  : 
Mild,   yet  mighty,   is   thy   power.'* 

Just  such  a  blessing  as  this  had  been 
the  subject  of  constant  prayer  with  Mr. 
Morse,  yet  now  that  it  came,  he  was 
not  permitted  to  mingle  in  the  scenes 
which  would  have  given  him  the  purest 
joy;  he  was  withdrawn  by  sickness.  But 
there  was  one  petition  ever  on  his  lips, 
not  only  through  the  day,  but  during 
the  solitude  and  suffering  of  the  mid- 
night, "  Father,  glorify  thy  name."  As 
the  good  work  advanced,  he  was  ex- 
ceedingly interested  in  reports  of  it,  and 
many  of  his  wakeful  hours  were  spent 
in  pleading  for  Zion.  Often  would  he 
repeat   that  hymn  of  D wight. 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         233 
"  I   love  thy   kingdom,   Lord." 

And  add,  with  emphasis,  "  Yes,  I  do,  I 
do  love  Christ's  kingdom,  and  rejoice  in 
her  prosperity."  With  deep  feehng  he 
would   repeat   the   third  verse : 

"  For   her   my   tears   shall   fall, 
For  her  my  prayers  ascend; 
To  her   my   cares   and   toils  be   given 
Till  toils   and   cares   shall  end." 

That  his  own  little  church,  for  which 
he  had  labored  and  prayed  so  con- 
stantly, the  church  of  his  warmest  affec- 
tion, was  also  enjoying  a  Pentecostal 
blessing,  was  to  him  a  peculiar  cause  of 
gratitude. 

He  would,  at  times,  seem  to  forget 
his  sufferings,  and  his  whole  heart  be 
filled  with  the  contemplation  of  the  en- 
largement of  Zion,  and  when  visited  hj 
Christian   friends,   who   inquired    for    his 

20* 


234        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

health,  he  would  briefly  answer  their 
questions,  and  immediately  say,  "  Now 
talk  to  me  about  the  revival,  the  meet- 
ings, and  what  new  efforts  are  being 
made  to  help  on  this  glorious  cause,  for 
this  is  all  my  comfort  now."  He  re- 
marked, on  one  occasion,  "  I  do  rejoice 
in  this  work,  though  God  does  not  honor 
me  by  permitting  me  to  labor  in  it  ;  but 
I  can  stand  still  and  see  his  salvation." 
Some  one  said  to  him  one  day,  "  Oh, 
brother  Morse,  how  much  we  want  you 
now.  We  want  you  in  the  chapel,  we 
need  your  instructions,  your  counsels, 
your  prayers.  You  know  so  well  how 
to  converse  with  the  young  convert,  and 
guide  the  inquirer,  that  it  seems  as  if 
we  could  not  do  without  you."  He 
listened  to  the  speaker  a  moment,  and 
then,  with  a  solemn  expression,  inter- 
rupted him,  exclaiming,  "  Not  so,  not 
so.      God   has   nothing  for   7ne   to   do   in 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         235 

this  revival.  He  is  saying  to  me,  lie 
here  and  cough.''''  At  another  time  he 
said,  "  I  can  do  nothing  to  help  forward 
this  glorious  work  but  pray,  and  I  do 
this  constantly.  I  know  '  they  also  serve 
who  only  stand  and  wait,'  but  it  is 
easier  and  pleasanter  to  do  the  will  of 
God   than  to   suffer  it." 

He  appeared  to  be  in  a  waiting  pos- 
ture, anxious  and  hoping  for  a  larger 
number  of  accessions  to  the  fold  of 
Christ.  He  inquired  of  a  friend  who 
visited  him,  if  there  had  been  any  new 
conversions  in  the  society  to  which  she 
belonged,  and  being  answered,  none^  he 
sighed,  and  replied,  with  great  solemnity, 
•'  When  will  the  cliildren  of  God  exer- 
cise full  faith  in  the  Divine  promise  ? 
Jesus  says,  'Ask  and  ye  shall  receive.' 
Do  Christians  believe  ?  Do  they  believe  ? 
Why  then  does  this  glorious  work  seem 
to  be  at  a  stand  still  ?" 


After  the  first  fruits  of  the  harvest 
had  been  gathered  into  the  Whitfield 
church,  he  said,  "  I  should  love  to  be 
once  more  permitted  to  go  into  that 
chapel,  and  listen  to  them  while  they 
tell  what  God  has  done  for  their  souls, 
and  give  them  a  word  of  advice  and 
caution."  When  asked  what  his  advice 
would  be,  he  said,  "  I  would  tell  them 
that  they  must  not  feel  that  their  work 
was  all  done,  now  they  were  united  to 
the  people  of  God ;  but  just  begun.  I 
would  tell  them  they  had  just  put  on 
the  armor,  and  they  must  fight  manfully 
for  the  Captain  of  their  salvation,  looking 
never  for  rest  until  he  shall  see  fit  to 
call   them  home." 

At  another  time  he  said,  "  Oh,  that  I 
could  be  permitted  to  go  once  more  to 
that  chapel,  and  speak  three  words  to 
those  young  converts."  When  asked 
what  he   would   say,   his   reply   was,   "  I 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         237 

would    say,   enlist    for    life !     enlist     for 
life !" 

He  seemed  to  lose  no  opportunity 
during  his  sickness  to  speak  a  word  for 
his  Master,  whether  it  was  to  those  who 
ministered  to  him  during  the  night 
watches,  or  to  others,  who  visited  him 
in  his  sick-chamber.  To  all,  his  testi- 
mony was  clear  and  fervent.  On  one 
occasion  he  said,  "  I  wish  that  I  could 
make  those  who  feel  that  a  sick-bed  is 
the  favorable  place  for  attending  to  the 
concerns  of  the  soul,  feel  as  I  do,  how 
mistaken  and  delusive  is  such  an  idea ! 
Sure  am  I  that  if  preparation  for  eter- 
nity had  not  been  made  until  now,  it 
must  have  been  forever  left  undone.  I 
cannot  fix  my  mind,  for  any  length  of 
time,  on  any  subject,  and  I  am  often  so 
exhausted  that  I  have  hardly  strength  to 
pray.     Like    Whitfield,   I  can  only    wrap 


238         JHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

myself    around    with    Christ's    righteous- 
ness,  and   so   lay   me   down   to   sleep." 

The  spring  of  the  year  was  a  favorite 
season  with  him.  His  love  of  nature 
and  refinement  of  taste  made  him  keenly 
alive  to  all  its  fresh  beauty  ;  the  spring- 
ing grass,  the  opening  bud,  the  melody 
of  birds,  the  soft,  genial  air,  were  sources 
of  great  delight  to  him.  As  this  season 
advanced,  he  was  very  anxious  to  go 
below,  that  he  might  once  more  look  out 
upon  the  face  of  -natur^,  and,  although  he 
was  very  feeble,  it  tv^as  thought  best  to 
gratify  the  desire.  It  was  on  a  beau- 
tiful morning  in  May  that  the  first 
effort  was  made.  As  he  was  led  to  the 
door,  and  looked  around  upon  the  garden 
and  trees,  which  were  just  assuming 
their  bright  summer  foliage,  and  listened, 
to  the  birds  warbling  forth  their  notes 
of  praise,  his  heart  responded  to  the 
joyful   scene,   and,   with    emotions   which 


CHRISTIAN      MECHANIC.  239 

could  hardly  find  utterance,  he  ex- 
claimed, raising  his  hands,  "  I  bless  God 
for  this,  that  I  have  once  more  been 
permitted  to  breathe  his  air,  and  gaze 
upon  the  work  of  his  hands.  This  is 
indeed  a  beautiful  world."  Once,  when 
a  bunch  of  delicate  blossoms  was  put 
into  his  hand  at  his  request,  he  looked 
intently  at  them,  and  inhaled  their 
fragrance ;  and  when  some  one  offered 
to  remove  them,  he  signified  his  wish  to 
retain  them,  whiCh  lie  did  nearly  all 
day,  as  if  he  cluilg  to  them  lovingly. 
Three  times  he  was  permitted  the  en- 
joyment of  going  from  his  room  to  look 
out  on  the  fair  face  of  nature,  but  the 
last  time  his  strength  had  so  failed  that 
it  was  with  extreme  difficulty  that  he 
^returned  to  his  chamber,  and  he  then 
said,  "  I  shall  never  go  below  again." 

He  soon  began -to  fail  rapidly,  and  was 
confined   most   of  the   time    to   his    bed, 


240         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

but  though  "  the  outer  man  decayed,  the 
inner  man  was  renewed  day  by  day." 
"  His  peace  was  as  a  river."  For  him 
"death  had  no  sting;"  and  he  often 
said,  "  the  grave  no  terror."  He  longed 
to  be  gone,  but  would  frequently  re- 
mark, "  I  hope  I  shall  be  willing  to 
wait  the  appointed  hour."  He  took 
great  pleasure  in  hearing  select  portions 
of  Scripture,  (especially  the  Psalms,) 
read  to  him,  and  accompanied  by  some 
favorite  hymn.  The  sixty-third  Psalm  of 
Watts,   commencing  with 

"  Great    God,   indulge   my  humble   claim," 

were  frequently  on  his  lips,  and  the  last 
two   lines   of  the   second   verse, 

"  And  I  am  thine  by  tenderest  ties, 
Thy  son,  thy  servant  bought   with  blood," 

would  be  often  repeated  with  deep  emo- 
tion ;   and   he  would  exclaim,  again   and 


CHRISTIAN     MEtlHANIC.         241 

again,  as  if  to  himself,  ''  Yes,  yes, 
bought  with   blood." 

A  few  days  before  his  death,  the 
99th  hymn  of  the  selection  appended  to 
Watts'  hymns,   commencing, 

*'  On  wings  of   faith  mount  up  my   soul,  and  rise," 

was  read  to  him  ;  and  when  he  heard 
the   second   stanza, 

""  No  gnawing  grief,  no  sad,  heart-rending  pain, 
In  that  blest  mansion,   can   admittance   gain ; 
No  sorrow  there,  no  soul-tormenting  fear. 
For  God's  own  hand  shall  wipe  the  falling  tear," 

he  exclaimed,  '•  Can  it  be  that  '  God's 
own  hand '  will  wipe  away  my  tears  V 
It  seems  too  great  an  act  of  conde- 
scension. Oh,  wonderful  I  wonderful ! 
•How  glorious  I ''  For  some  time  he 
talked  in  this  broken  but  rapturous  strain, 
witli   his    hands    lifted    towards    heaven,   • 

21 


242         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

and  his  whole  countenance  beaming  witli 
the  joy  which  seemed  to  fill  his  soul. 
After  this,  he  requested  to  have  the 
remaining  lines  read,  saying,  "  I  inter- 
rupted you,  but  I  could  not  help  it,  it 
was  so  glorious."  A  young  relative  who 
was  at  that  time  staying  with  Mrs. 
Morse,  said,  in  a  letter  to  her,  subse- 
quently, "  Hereafter,  that  beautiful  hymn 
will  have  to  me  a  sacred  memory  con- 
nected with  it,  which  I  can  never  lose  ; 
and  whenever  I  hear  it  read,  a  vision 
will  rise  up  of  a  wasted  form,  and  a 
pale  face  glowing  with  heavenly  light, 
caused  by  the  inspiration  of  the  words 
which  seemed  to  fill  his  whole  being 
with  renewed  faith,  a  faith,  even  then, 
almost  lost  in  sight."  "  Those  who 
listened  to  his  words,  as  he  lay  on  thal^ 
death-bed,  can  never  forget  the  earnest 
tones  in  wliich  they  were  uttered,  or 
the     pleasant    smile    which    accompanied 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         243 

them ;  and  they  had  greater  weight  and 
power,  because  all  knew  that  they  were 
only  an  outward  expression  of  the  spirit 
that  was  within.  *  *  *  Such  a  sick- 
ness as  his  is  full  of  blessing,  both  to 
the  sufferer  and  to  those  friends  who 
gathered  so  lovingly  around  him,  for  it 
is  a  privilege  to  witness  the  triumphs 
of  the  soul  over  the  pains  of  the  body." 
Mr.  Morse  had  once  said  to  a  friend, 
"  I  do  not  desire  riches  or  fame,  and  I 
think  on  the  whole,  (and  I  have  thought 
it  over  a  great  deal,)  that  I  can  add 
my  '  amen '  to  Agur's  prayer.  But  there 
is  one  thing  I  do  most  intensely  desire, 
and  for  which  I  most  constantly  pray ; 
— it  is,  that  I  may  have  strength  given 
me  to  walk  through  life,  in  every 
department  of  it,  to  go  through  the 
dark  valley,  let  the  struggle  with  the 
king  of  terrors  be  longer  or  shorter, 
and   finally  lie  down  in   my  silent  grave 


244         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

as  a  Christian,  leaving  7io  dark  spot 
on  my  memory  which  would  lead  others 
to  think  lightly  of  a  cause  so  dear  to  the 
Saviour.'*     Was  not  his  request  granted? 

A  sister  in  the  church  called  to  see 
him,  and  he  received  her  with  a  smile. 
"  You  can  smile  yet,  brother  Morse," 
said  the  lady.  "And  why  should  I  not," 
he  quickly  replied,  "  with  such  a  glo- 
rious prospect  just  before  me."  And  then 
after  speaking  more  fully  of  his  views 
and  feelings  in  regard  to  his  approach- 
ing departure,  he  added,  at  the  close 
of  the  interview,  "  Remember  me  to  the 
old  ladies  ;  "  (referring  to  two  aged  rela- 
tives in  her  family,)  "  tell  them  I  am 
going  to  heaven  a  little  in  advance,  and 
shall  be  there  to  meet  and  welcome 
them  home." 

One  day,  some  one  who  visited  him^ 
was  speaking  of  his  untiring  labors  for 
the    welfare    of    Zion,    of    his    constant 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         245 

attendance  on  the  vestry  meetings,  and 
Ills  efforts  to  render  them  interesting 
and  profitable,  and  added  tliat  these 
reflections  must  be  a  source  of  comfort 
to  him.  Mr.  Morse  immediately  replied, 
"  Poor  comfort  this !  I  have  not  the 
least  hope  or  dependence  but  in  the 
atonement  and  righteousness  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,"  and  quoted  Tvith  much 
feeling, 

"  Nothing  in   my   hands  I  bring, 
Simply   to   thy   cross   I   cling." 

At  another  time  he  said,  "  What  ground 
of  dependence  has  any  one  who  does 
not  trust  alone  in  Christ  for  salvation  ? 
Good  works,  I  have  none.  Deeds  of 
righteousness,  none. 

'  Not  a  work  that  I  can   plead, 
Not  a  glimpse  of   hope  for   me, 
Only  in    Gethsemane.' " 

His  intimate  friend,  Mr.  P ,  whose 

21* 


246        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

society  was  a  great  comfort  to  him  at 
all  times,  and  to  whom  reference  has 
been    previously    made,    was    with    him 

one  day,  when  he  said,  ^'  Brother  P , 

you  come  to  me  like  an  angel  of  mercy , 
to  minister  to  my  wants,  and  you  are 
going  with  me  down  to  the  very  entrance 
of  the  dark  valley  ;  but  there  you  must 
leave  me.  But  the  valley  is  not  dark^ 
and  it  is  all  light  beyond.'' 

A  few  days  before  his  death,  his 
beloved  pastor  said  to  him,  as  he  ap- 
proached his  bedside,  "  Well,  brother 
Morse,  you  have  got  almost  home." 
''  I  hope  so,"  was  the  reply,  "  but  I 
hope  to  be  patient,  and  willing  to  wait 
all  the  days  of  my  appointed  time,  till 
my   change   comes,"  and  added, 

"  Oh,  if   my  Lord  would  come   and  meet, 

My  soul   would   stretch   her   wings   in   haste^ 
Fly  fearless   through  death's  iron   gate, 
Nor  feel   the   terrors   as   she   passed  1" 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         247 

His  pastor,  with  deep  emotion,  said, 
"  Brother  Morse,  I  don't  know  how  to 
spare  yon,  or  how  to  do  without  you. 
I  have  ever  looked  to  you  for  counsel 
and  advice,  always  feeling  that  on  your 
judgment  I  could  safely  rely."  Much 
more  was  said  from  the  fullness  of  a 
pastor's  heart ;  Mr.  Morse  listened  in 
silence,  but  before  the  interview  closed, 
however,  he  manifested  the  leading  feel- 
ings of  his  soul,  by  repeating  the  familiar 
lines  of   Watts — 

"But  when  liis  holiest  works  are   done, 
His   soul  relies   on   grace   alone. 
This   is  the   man   thy   face   shall   see, 
And   dwell  forever,   Lord,   with   thee." 

•  His  pastor  once  inquired,  "  Brother  Morse, 
your  state  of  mind  during  your  sick- 
ness has  been  that  of  peace,  quiet  sub- 
mission and  trust,  rather  than  rapture 
and  joy,  has  it  not  ? "  He  replied, 
*•'  Such  exercises  as  the  latter  would  not 


248         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

have   been   in    keeping  with   my   charac- 
ter  and   habits   of   mind." 

Although  as  it  regarded  himself,  he 
was  so  calm  and  resigned,  yet  there 
was  one  aspect  of  the  case  which  called 
forth  his  deepest  feelings.  This  was  the 
approaching  separation  from  his  com- 
panion, to  whom  he  was  a  most  tender, 
devoted  husband.  Whenever  he  alluded 
to  this  subject,  his  feelings  overcame  him, 
and  often  bursting  into  tears,  he  would 
exclaim,  ''  How  can  I  leave  you  alone 
in  this  cold,  unfeeling,  and  selfish  world  ? 
Would  it  were  the  will  of  Heaven  that 
we  could  take  our  flight  together  to 
that  better  land;  then  how  joyfully 
could  I  go.''  "  Do  not  weep  so,"  he 
said  to  her  one  day,  "  our  separation 
will  not  be  long ;  you  will  soon  join  me 
again,  and  then — we  shall  part  no  more 
forever."  At  another  time,  he  said, 
"God    will    comfort    you,    I    know    He 


CHRISTIAN     MEGHAN 

will.  I  leave  you  with  him  who  has 
promised  to  be  the  widow's  God."  "  Per- 
haps I  may  be  permitted  to  come  and 
be  a  ministering  spirit  to  watch  over 
you,"  he  said  to  his  wife.  "  Who  knows 
but  our  little  one  and  myself  may  be 
your  guardian  angels,  and  then  you  will 
not  be  lonely."  He  would  often  seem 
to  lose  sight  of  his  own  keen  sufferings 
in  his  efforts  to  console  and  comfort 
her.  Among  other  topics  of  consola- 
tion, he  loved  to  think  and  speak  of 
God's  wisdom,  and  his  overruling  pro- 
vidence, often  saying,  "Remember,  dear 
Lucy,  that  God  makes  no  mistakes  in 
the  administration  of  his  government," 
and  quoting  the   lines — 

"With  patient  steps,  the  path  of   duty  run, 
God   nothing  does,   or   suffers   to   be   done 
But  we  should  do  oursehes,  did  we  but  see 
The   end  of  all   events   as   well  as   he." 

A     friend    called    on    him,     not    lonsr 


250         CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

before  his  death,  and  as  she  approached 
him,  he  looked  up  mournfully,  and 
said,  "  Still,  still  in  the  furnace."  His 
friend  replied,  "  Brother  Morse,  the 
refiner  always  places  his  chosen  ones 
in  the  furnace  until  all  the  dross  is 
consumed,  and  the  true  gold  appears ; 
are  you  not  willing  to  endure  the  trial  ? " 
He  paused  a  moment,  and  then  replied, 
"I  am  trying  to  have  no  will  about 
it."  Soon  after,  he  exclaimed,  "  Can 
there  be  any  gold  found  in  me  ?  Will 
there  be   any  thing  but   dross  ?  " 

The  last  few  days  of  his  life,  his 
strength  had  so  far  failed  that  it  required 
a  great  effort  to  speak  audibly  ;  yet  still 
to  every  one  he  had  a  word  to  say. 
A  young  relative  from  a  distant  city, 
called  to  see  him,  who  had  imbibed 
skeptical  opinions.  Mr.  Morse,  while  in 
health,  had  often  conversed  faithfully 
with   him,  and  he  now  exerted  his  little 


CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC.         251 

remaining  strength  in  attempting  to  give 
his  dying  testimony  to  the  reality  of 
religion,  and  the  power  of  the  gospel 
to  sustain  the  soul  in  all  its  conflicts. 
He  closed  his  solemn  appeals  by  say- 
ing,   "  Will   you  not,   dear  E ,  strive 

by  repentance  and  faith  in  Christ,  to 
meet  me  in  heaven  ? "  "I  will  try," 
was  the  answer.  God  grant  that  the 
promise  then  made  to  this  dying  friend, 
may   not  be   forgotten. 

As  life  drew  toward  its  close,  his  suf- 
ferings were  severe,  but  not  a  murmur 
or  groan  escaped  his  lips.  To  one  who 
stood  by  him  after  a  violent  paroxysm 
of  coughing,  he  quoted  those  lines  which 
have  been  so  often  the  testimony  of  depart- 
ing  Christians : 

"Jesus   can  make   a   dying  bed 
Feel   soft   as   downy   pillows   are." 

The  last  particular  conversation  he 
had   with   any   one   was  with    his   pastor, 


252        CHRISTIAN     MECHANIC. 

the  afternoon  before  bis  deatb.  The 
last  sands  were  running,  the  lamp  of 
life  was  well  nigh  extinguished,  and  it 
was  with  much  difficulty  he  could  be 
heard  to  whisper:  "Mr.  Spalding,  I 
wish  to  send  my  last  dying  message  to 
the  church.  Tell  them  to  labor  for 
God,  to  labor  till  they  die ;  it  is  the 
only   thing   worth   living  for." 

About  three  o'clock  the  next  morn- 
ing. May  18,  1858,  his  mind  began  to 
wander.  '-'  The  silver  cord  was  loosed, 
the  golden  bowl  broken,  the  pitcher  was 
broken  at  the  fountain, '  and  the  wheel 
broken  at  the  cistern ;  "  and  in  a  few 
hours  the  faithful  laborer,  and  the  devoted 
Christian  had  gone  home,  to  rest  forever 
in  that  mansion  prepared  for  those  who 
love  God.  ^ 

THE     END. 


,»,  ill    lillll  II   :  r/-vT.».i.» 

3  1205  02528  6558      ^ornia 


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